Reaction device controlled by magnetic control signal

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of a system including a remotely controlled reaction device and associated controller are described. Methods of use and control of the device are also disclosed. According to various embodiments, a reaction device is placed in an environment in order to perform a chemical reaction in an environment. Exemplary environments include a body of an organism, a body of water, or an enclosed volume of a fluid. In selected embodiments, a magnetic field, an electric field, or electromagnetic control signal may be used.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is related to, claims the earliest availableeffective filing date(s) from (e.g., claims earliest available prioritydates for other than provisional patent applications; claims benefitsunder 35 USC §119(e) for provisional patent applications), andincorporates by reference in its entirety all subject matter of thefollowing listed application(s) (the “Related Applications”) to theextent such subject matter is not inconsistent herewith; the presentapplication also claims the earliest available effective filing date(s)from, and also incorporates by reference in its entirety all subjectmatter of any and all parent, grandparent, great-grandparent, etc.applications of the Related Application(s) to the extent such subjectmatter is not inconsistent herewith. The United States Patent Office(USPTO) has published a notice to the effect that the USPTO's computerprograms require that patent applicants reference both a serial numberand indicate whether an application is a continuation or continuation inpart. The present applicant entity has provided below a specificreference to the application(s) from which priority is being claimed asrecited by statute. Applicant entity understands that the statute isunambiguous in its specific reference language and does not requireeither a serial number or any characterization such as “continuation” or“continuation-in-part.” Notwithstanding the foregoing, applicant entityunderstands that the USPTO's computer programs have certain data entryrequirements, and hence applicant entity is designating the presentapplication as a continuation in part of its parent applications, butexpressly points out that such designations are not to be construed inany way as any type of commentary and/or admission as to whether or notthe present application contains any new matter in addition to thematter of its parent application(s).

RELATED APPLICATIONS

1. For purposes of the USPTO extra-statutory requirements, the presentapplication constitutes a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/272,524, entitled REMOTE CONTROLLED IN SITUREACTION DEVICE, naming Leroy E. Hood, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Edward K. Y.Jung, Robert Langer, Clarence T. Tegreene, Lowell L. Wood, Jr. andVictoria Y. H. Wood as inventors, filed Nov. 9, 2005, which is currentlyco-pending, or is an application of which a currently co-pendingapplication is entitled to the benefit of the filing date.

2. For purposes of the USPTO extra-statutory requirements, the presentapplication constitutes a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/271,146, entitled REACTION DEVICE CONTROLLED BYRF CONTROL SIGNAL, naming Leroy E. Hood, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Edward K.Y. Jung, Robert Langer, Clarence T. Tegreene, Lowell L. Wood, Jr. andVictoria Y. H. Wood as inventors, filed Nov. 9, 2005, which is currentlyco-pending, or is an application of which a currently co-pendingapplication is entitled to the benefit of the filing date.

3. For purposes of the USPTO extra-statutory requirements, the presentapplication constitutes a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/270,799, entitled REMOTE CONTROLLED IN SITUREACTION METHOD, naming Leroy E. Hood, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Edward K. Y.Jung, Robert Langer, Clarence T. Tegreene, Lowell L. Wood, Jr. andVictoria Y. H. Wood as inventors, filed Nov. 9, 2005, which is currentlyco-pending, or is an application of which a currently co-pendingapplication is entitled to the benefit of the filing date.

4. For purposes of the USPTO extra-statutory requirements, the presentapplication constitutes a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/272,455, entitled REMOTE CONTROLLER FOR IN SITUREACTION DEVICE, naming Leroy E. Hood, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Edward K. Y.Jung, Robert Langer, Clarence T. Tegreene, Lowell L. Wood, Jr. andVictoria Y. H. Wood as inventors, filed Nov. 9, 2005, which is currentlyco-pending, or is an application of which a currently co-pendingapplication is entitled to the benefit of the filing date.

5. For purposes of the USPTO extra-statutory requirements, the presentapplication constitutes a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/272,572, entitled REMOTE CONTROLLED IN VIVOREACTION METHOD, naming Leroy E. Hood, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Edward K. Y.Jung, Robert Langer, Clarence T. Tegreene, Lowell L. Wood, Jr. andVictoria Y. H. Wood as inventors, filed Nov. 9, 2005, which is currentlyco-pending, or is an application of which a currently co-pendingapplication is entitled to the benefit of the filing date.

6. For purposes of the USPTO extra-statutory requirements, the presentapplication constitutes a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/272,573, IN SITU REACTION DEVICE, naming LeroyE. Hood, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Edward K. Y. Jung, Robert Langer, ClarenceT. Tegreene, Lowell L. Wood, Jr. and Victoria V. H. Wood as inventors,filed Nov. 9, 2005, which is currently co-pending, or is an applicationof which a currently co-pending application is entitled to the benefitof the filing date.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates, in general, to the field of devices,systems and/or methods for remotely affecting chemical or otherreactions.

BACKGROUND

Implantable controlled release devices for drug delivery have beendeveloped; certain devices rely upon the gradual release of a drug froma polymeric carrier over time, due to degradation of the carrier.Polymer-based drug release devices are being developed that include adrug in a ferropolymer that may be heated by an externally appliedmagnetic field, thus influencing the drug release. MEMS based drugrelease devices that include integrated electrical circuitry are alsounder development, as are MEMS based systems for performing chemicalreactions. Wireless transmission of electromagnetic signals of variousfrequencies is well known in the areas of communications and datatransmission, as well as in selected biomedical applications.

SUMMARY

The present application relates, in general, to the field of devices andsystems for performing chemical reactions. In particular, the presentapplication relates to remotely controlled reaction devices that makeuse of control signals carried between a remote controller and areaction device in an environment by electrical, magnetic, orelectromagnetic fields or radiation. Embodiments of a system including aremotely controlled reaction device and associated controller aredescribed. Methods of use and control of the device are also disclosed.According to various embodiments, a reaction device is placed in anenvironment in order to perform a chemical reaction in an environment.Exemplary environments include a body of an organism, a body of water,or an enclosed volume of a fluid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a system including a remotelycontrolled reaction device;

FIG. 2 depicts an embodiment of a reaction device including an internalreaction region;

FIG. 3 depicts an embodiment of a reaction device including a reactionregion on an exterior portion of a body structure;

FIG. 4 depicts an embodiment of a remotely activatable control element;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a reaction device;

FIG. 6 depicts an embodiment of a system including a remote controldevice and a release device;

FIG. 7 depicts a remotely activatable element including a plurality ofelectromagnetically active elements;

FIG. 8A depicts an exemplary reaction region;

FIG. 8B depicts expansion of the reaction region of FIG. 8A in a firstdirection;

FIG. 8C depicts expansion of the reaction region of FIG. 8A in a seconddirection;

FIG. 8D depicts expansion of the reaction region of FIG. 8A in first andsecond directions;

FIGS. 9A and 9B depict expansion of a reaction volume;

FIGS. 10A and 10B depict unfolding of a pleated reaction region;

FIGS. 11A and 11B depict expansion of a porous element;

FIGS. 12A and 12B depict an example of the effect of stretching of areaction region;

FIGS. 13A and 13B depict another example of an effect of stretching of areaction region;

FIGS. 14A and 14B are cross-sectional views of an embodiment of areaction device including a heating element;

FIGS. 15A and 15B are cross-sectional views of another embodiment of areaction device including a heating element;

FIGS. 16A and 16B depict an exemplary embodiment of a reaction region;

FIGS. 17A and 17B depict another exemplary embodiment of a reactionregion;

FIGS. 18A and 18B depict another exemplary embodiment of a reactionregion;

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of a reaction device having a valve atan outlet;

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of a reaction device having a valve atan inlet;

FIG. 21 illustrates an embodiment of a reaction device including anantenna;

FIG. 22 illustrates an embodiment of a reaction device including aresonant element;

FIG. 23 illustrates an embodiment of a reaction device includingremotely activatable molecules;

FIG. 24 illustrates the reaction device of FIG. 23 following excitationof the remotely activatable molecules;

FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a reaction device;

FIGS. 26A and 26B depict an example of the effect of unfolding areaction region;

FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a valve includinga remotely activatable valve element;

FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a valve includinga remotely activatable valve element;

FIG. 29 illustrates an embodiment of a system including a remotelycontrolled reaction device;

FIG. 30 illustrates an embodiment of a system including a remotelycontrolled reaction device;

FIG. 31 illustrates an embodiment of a system including a remotelycontrolled reaction device;

FIG. 32 depicts an embodiment of a system including a remote controldevice and a reaction device including a sensor;

FIG. 33 depicts an embodiment of a system including a remote controldevice and a reaction device including a sensor;

FIG. 34 depicts an embodiment of a system including a remote controldevice and a reaction device including a sensor;

FIG. 35 illustrates a control signal generated from stored pattern data;

FIG. 36 illustrates a control signal calculated from a model based onstored parameters;

FIG. 37 illustrates an embodiment of a remote control device includingsoftware for controlling control signal generation and transmission;

FIG. 38 depicts an exemplary control signal;

FIG. 39 depicts another exemplary control signal;

FIG. 40 depicts another exemplary control signal;

FIG. 41 depicts a reaction device including a plurality of electricallyor magnetically responsive elements;

FIG. 42 is a flow diagram of an embodiment of a method of performing areaction;

FIG. 43 is a flow diagram of an embodiment of a method of performing areaction;

FIG. 44 is a flow diagram of an embodiment of a method of controlling areaction device;

FIG. 45 is a flow diagram of an embodiment of a reaction method;

FIG. 46 is a flow diagram of an embodiment of a method of controlling areaction device;

FIG. 47 is a flow diagram of an embodiment of a method of controlling areaction device;

FIG. 48 is a flow diagram of an embodiment of a method of controlling areaction device; and

FIG. 49 is a flow diagram of an embodiment of a method of controlling areaction device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 depicts a first exemplary embodiment of a reaction system 10. Inthe embodiment of FIG. 1, reaction system 10 includes reaction device 12located in an environment 14, (which, in this particular example, is ahuman body) and remote controller 16. As used herein, the term “remote”refers to the transmission of information (e.g. data or control signals)or power signals or other interactions between the remote controller orthe reaction system without a connecting element such as a wire or cablelinking the remote controller and the reaction system, and does notimply a particular spatial relationship between the remote controllerand the reaction device, which may, in various embodiments, be separatedby relatively large distances (e.g. miles or kilometers) or a relativelysmall distances (e.g. inches or millimeters). Reaction device 12includes a remotely activatable control element 18 that is responsive toan electromagnetic control signal generated by remote controller 16.

An exemplary embodiment of a reaction device is depicted in FIG. 2.Reaction device 20 includes remotely activatable control element 22 inbody structure 24. Body structure 24 includes inlet 26 which providesfor the movement of materials (either by mass fluid flow or moleculardiffusion) into an internal space 27, and outlet 28 which provides formovement of materials out of internal space 27. A reaction region 30 islocated on an inner surface of reaction device 20. A reaction occurringat reaction region 30 may be modulated by the activity of remotelyactivatable control element 22. As an example, reactant molecules 32 maymove into reaction device 20 and participate in a reaction at reactionregion 30. Reaction product molecules 34 then exit reaction device 20via outlet 28.

While FIG. 2 depicts a reaction device 20 having a reaction region 30within a body structure 24, FIG. 3 illustrates a reaction device 40 witha reaction region 46 located on an outer surface of a body structure 42.A remotely activatable control element 44 may be located within reactiondevice 40. Reactant molecules 48 undergo a reaction at reaction region46, on the exterior of body structure 24, to form reaction product 50.

The body structure of the reaction device (e.g. body structure 24 inFIG. 2 or body structure 42 in FIG. 3) may be adapted for a specificenvironment. The size, shape, and materials of the body structureinfluence suitability for a particular environment. For example, adevice intended for use in a body of a human or other organism shouldhave suitable biocompatibility characteristics. For use in anyenvironment, the body structure (and device as a whole) may be designedto withstand environmental conditions such as temperature, chemicalexposure, and mechanical stresses. Moreover, the body structure mayinclude features that allow it to be placed or positioned in a desiredlocation in the environment, or targeted to a desired location in theenvironment. Such features may include size and shape features, tethersor gripping structures to prevent movement of the body structure in theenvironment (in the case that the device is placed in the desiredlocation) or targeting features (surface chemistry, shape, etc.) thatmay direct the device toward or cause it to be localized in a desiredlocation. Small devices (e.g. as may be used for placement in the bodyof an organism) may be constructed using methods known to those in skillof the art of microfabrication. In applications where size is not aconstraint, a wide variety of fabrication methods may be employed.

In some embodiments, a remotely activatable control element may beformed entirely of a magnetically or an electrically responsive materialor structure. In other embodiments, a remotely activatable controlelement may include multiple magnetically or electrically responsivecomponents (e.g. ferrous particles). In some embodiments, as depicted inFIG. 4 in schematic form, a remotely activatable control element 60 mayinclude a magnetically or electrically active component 62 which formsonly a part of the magnetically or electrically responsive controlelement.

Reaction systems as depicted in FIG. 1 may include, for example, areaction device as exemplified in FIG. 2, including a body structure 24adapted for positioning in a body of an organism, a reaction region 30located in or on the body structure, the reaction region including afirst material capable of influencing a chemical reaction; and aremotely activatable control element 22 operably coupled to the bodystructure and responsive to an electromagnetic field control signal tomodify one or more of the rate or kinetics of the chemical reaction. Areaction system may also include a remote control signal source (16 inFIG. 1) capable of generating an electromagnetic control signalsufficient to activate the remotely activatable control element toproduce a desired rate or kinetics of the chemical reaction.

The reaction region of the reaction device may be located in an interiorportion of the body structure and may be at least intermittently influid communication with the environment via at least one inlet oroutlet, as depicted in FIG. 2. The operation of the reaction device willbe described in greater detail in connection with FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is across sectional view of a reaction device 70 of the same general type asshown in FIG. 2, including a body structure 72 having an inlet 81 andoutlet 82 and enclosing a reaction volume 74. A reaction region 76includes a first material 78 that is capable of influencing a chemicalreaction. Remotely activatable control element 80 is responsive to anelectromagnetic control signal to modify the influence of first material78 on a chemical reaction. Alternatively, in some embodiments, thereaction region may be located on an exterior portion of the bodystructure in fluid communication with the environment, as depicted inFIG. 3. As will be described in greater detail herein, reaction device70 may further include a valve responsive to a change in at least onedimension of the remotely activatable control element. The valve may beconfigured to modify the flow of fluid into the reaction regionresponsive to the change in at least one dimension of the remotelyactivatable control element. Additional portions of the reaction regionmay be exposed responsive to the change in at least one dimension of theremotely activatable control element. A surface area of the reactionregion may be modified responsive to the change in at least onedimension of the remotely activatable control element, or a volume of areaction space containing the reaction region within the interiorportion of the body structure may be modified responsive to the changein at least one dimension of the remotely activatable control element.

FIG. 6 depicts a reaction system 100 including an exemplary remotecontroller or remote control signal source 102 and a reaction device104. Reaction device 104 is positioned in an environment 106, andincludes remotely activatable control element 108. Remotely activatablecontrol element 108 is responsive to an electromagnetic control signal110 produced by remote control signal source 102. Remote control signalsource 102 may include electrical circuitry 112, a signal generator 114,and a signal transmitter 116. Signal transmitter 116 may include asending device which may be, for example, an antenna or waveguidesuitable for use with an electromagnetic signal. Static and quasistaticelectrical fields may be produced, for example, by charged metallicsurfaces, while static and quasistatic magnetic fields may be produced,for example, by passing current through one or more wires or coils, orthrough the use of one or more permanent magnets, as known to those ofskill in the art. As used herein, the terms transmit, transmitter, andtransmission are not limited to only transmitting in the sense ofradiowave transmission and reception of electromagnetic signals, but arealso applied to wireless coupling and/or conveyance of magnetic signalsfrom one or more initial locations to one or more remote locations.

The remote control signal source (as depicted generally in FIG. 6) maybe configured to produce an electromagnetic control signal havingvarious characteristics, depending upon the intended application of thesystem. Design specifics of circuitry 112, signal generator 114, andsignal transmitter 116 will depend upon the type of electromagneticcontrol signal 110; the design of circuitry and related structures forgeneration and transmission of electromagnetic signals can beimplemented using tools and techniques known to those of skill in theelectronic arts. See, for example, Electrodynamics of Continuous Media,2^(nd) Edition, by L. D. Landau, E. M. Lifshitz and L. P. Pitaevskii,Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford, pp. 1-13- and 199-222, which isincorporated herein by reference, for discussion of theory underlyingthe generation and propagation of electrical, magnetic, andelectromagnetic signals.

In some embodiments, a specific remote control signal source may beconfigured to produce only a specific type of signal (e.g., of aspecific frequency or frequency band) while in other embodiments, aspecific remote control signal source may be adjustable to produce asignal having variable frequency content. The remote control signalsource 102 of the reaction system 100 may be configured to generate astatic or quasi-static electrical field control signal or static orquasi-static magnetic field control signal sufficient to activate aremotely activatable control element 108 to produce a desired rate orkinetics of the chemical reaction. In other embodiments, the remotecontrol signal source 102 may be configured to generate anelectromagnetic control signal at various different frequenciessufficient to activate the remotely activatable control element 108 toproduce a desired rate or kinetics of the chemical reaction.Electromagnetic control signals may have radio-frequency, microwave,infrared, millimeter wave, optical, or ultraviolet frequencies, forexample. Generation of radio frequency electromagnetic signals isdescribed, for example, in the ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications2006, R. Dean Straw, Editor, published by ARRL, Newington, Conn., whichis incorporated herein by reference.

The remote controller/remote control signal source (e.g., 102 in FIG. 6)may be modified as appropriate for its intended use. For example, it maybe configured to be wearable on the body of a human (or other organism)in which a reaction device has been deployed, for example on a belt,bracelet or pendant, or taped or otherwise adhered to the body of thehuman. Alternatively, it may be configured to be placed in thesurroundings of the organism, e.g. as a table-top device for use in ahome or clinical setting.

Various types of electromagnetic field control signals may be used toactivate the remotely activatable control element. The remotelyactivatable control element may be responsive to a static orquasi-static electrical field or a static or quasi-static magneticfield. It may be responsive to various types of non-ionizingelectromagnetic radiation, or in some cases, ionizing electromagneticradiation. Electromagnetic field control signals that may be used invarious embodiments include radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation,microwave electromagnetic radiation, infrared electromagnetic radiation,millimeter wave electromagnetic radiation, optical electromagneticradiation, or ultraviolet electromagnetic radiation.

In some embodiments, the remotely activatable control element mayrespond to the control signal by changing shape. In some embodiments,the remotely activatable control element may respond to the controlsignal by changing in at least one dimension. The response of theremotely activatable control element may include one or more of heating,cooling, vibrating, expanding, stretching, unfolding, contracting,deforming, softening, or folding globally or locally. The remotelyactivatable control element may include various materials, such aspolymers, ceramics, plastics, dielectrics or metals, or combinationsthereof. The remotely activatable control element may include a shapememory material such as a shape memory polymer or a shape memory metal,or a composite structure such as a bimetallic structure. The remotelyactivatable control element may include a magnetically or electricallyactive material. Examples of magnetically active materials includepermanently magnetizable materials, ferromagnetic materials such asiron, nickel, cobalt, and alloys thereof, ferrimagnetic materials suchas magnetite, ferrous materials, ferric materials, diamagnetic materialssuch as quartz, paramagnetic materials such as silicate or sulfide, andantiferromagnetic materials such as canted antiferromagnetic materialswhich behave similarly to ferromagnetic materials; examples ofelectrically active materials include ferroelectrics, piezoelectrics anddielectrics. In some embodiments, the remotely activatable controlelement may include a hydrogel or a ferrogel.

In some embodiments, the remotely activatable control element mayinclude a polymer and an electrically active component (including highlypolarizable dielectrics) or a magnetically active component (includingferropolymers and the like as well as remotely activatable controlelements include one (or possibly more) large magnetically orelectrically active components, as depicted in FIG. 4. In embodiments inwhich the remotely activatable control element includes one or moreelectrically or magnetically active components, the electrically ormagnetically active component may respond to an electromagnetic controlsignal in a first manner (e.g., by heating) and the response of theremotely activatable control element may be produced in response to theelectrically or magnetically active component (e.g. expansion or changein shape in response to heating of the electrically or magneticallyactive component).

An exemplary remotely activatable control element 120 including acomposite structure formed from a polymer 122 and multiple electricallyor magnetically active components in the form of multiple particles 124distributed through the polymer 122 is depicted in FIG. 7. In someembodiments, the remotely activatable control element may be comprisedentirely of a electrically or magnetically active structure. Forexample, the electrically or magnetically active component may beheatable by the incident electromagnetic control signal, and whereinheating of the electrically or magnetically active component causes thepolymer to undergo a change in configuration that modifies the influenceof the first material on the chemical reaction. An example of amagnetically responsive polymer is described, for example, in Neto, etal, “Optical, Magnetic and Dielectric Properties of Non-LiquidCrystalline Elastomers Doped with Magnetic Colloids”; Brazilian Journalof Physics; bearing a date of March 2005; pp. 184-189; Volume 35, Number1, which is incorporated herein by reference. Other exemplary materialsand structures are described in Agarwal et al., “Magnetically-driventemperature-controlled microfluidic actuators”; 2004 Proc. 1st Int.Workshop on Networked Sensing System (Tokyo, Japan) pp. 51-5 or U.S.Pat. No. 6,607,553, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

In some embodiments, the remotely activatable control element may form astructural component of the reaction device that modifies the rate orkinetics of the reaction occurring at the reaction region by modifying aproperty of the reaction region or the space in which the reactionregion is located. A structural component may include, for example, aportion of the wall of the reaction device or other portion (orpossibly, the whole) of the structure of the device. Such effects may beproduced through a change in at least one dimension by the remotelyactivatable control element in response to the control signal.

FIGS. 8A-8D depict the effect of changes in one or two dimensions on areaction region 150. For example, the reaction region may be formed on aremotely activatable control element that expands in response to acontrol signal, or it may expand in response to a response of a remotelyactivatable control element. A reaction region 150 including a pluralityof reaction sites 152, and having initial length of x₁ in a firstdimension and y₁ in a second dimension. FIG. 8B depicts reaction region150 following a change in the first dimension, to a length x₂. FIG. 8Cdepicts reaction region 150 following a change in the second dimension,to a length y₂, and FIG. 8D depicts a change in both the first andsecond dimensions, to a size of x₂ by y₂. In each case, a change indimension results in a change in distance between reaction sites 152.The dimension change depicted in FIGS. 8A-8D may be viewed as a‘stretching’ or ‘expansion’ of the reaction region. Increasing thesurface area of the reaction region may increase the rate of thereaction. Increasing the surface area of the reaction region (e.g., bystretching the surface) may increase the distance between reaction siteson the reaction region. An increased distance between reaction sites maylead to an increase in reaction rate (for example, in cases wheresmaller spacing between reaction sites leads to steric hindrance thatblocks access of reactants to reaction sites).

Some examples of reactions that may be sped up by change in distancebetween reaction sites include those involving drugs designed withspacers, such as dual function molecules, biomolecules linked totransition metal complexes as described in Paschke et al, “Biomoleculeslinked to transition metal complexes-new chances for chemotherapy”;Current Medicinal Chemistry; bearing dates of October 2003 and Oct. 18,2005, printed on Oct. 24, 2005; pp. 2033-44 (pp. 1-2); Volume 10, Number19, and Schiff bases as described in Puccetti et al., “Carbonicanhydrase inhibitors”, Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 2005 Jun. 15; 15(12):3096-101 (Abstract only), both of which are incorporated herein byreference. Other reactions include reactions responding toconformational (allosteric) changes including regulation by allostericmodulators, and reactions involving substrate or ligand cooperativity inmultiple-site proteins, where binding affects the affinity of subsequentbinding, e.g., binding of a first 0₂ molecule to Heme increases thebinding affinity of the next, or influence of Tau on Taxol, as describedin Ross et al., “Tau induces cooperative Taxol binding to microtubules”;PNAS; Bearing dates of Aug. 31, 2004 and 2004; pp. 1291012915; Volume101, Number 35; The National Academy of Sciences of the USA, which isincorporated herein by reference. Reactions that may be slowed down byincreased reaction site spacing include reactions responsive toconformational (allosteric) changes, influence or pH, crosslinking. Seefor example Boniface et al., “Evidence for a Conformational Change in aClass II Major Histocompatibility Complex Molecule Occurring in the SamepH Range Where Antigen Binding Is Enhanced”; J. Exp. Med.; Bearing datesof January 1996 and Jun. 26, 2005; pp. 119-126; Volume 183; TheRockefeller University Press; also incorporated herein by reference orSridhar et al., “New bivalent PKC ligands linked by a carbon spacer:enhancement in binding affinity”; J Med Chem.; Bearing dates of Sep. 11,2003 and Oct. 18, 2005, printed on Oct. 24, 2005; pp. 4196-204 (pp.1-2); Volume 46, Number 19, also incorporated herein by reference.

In other embodiments, expansion of a remotely activatable controlelement may produce other modifications to a chemical reaction. Forexample, a volume of a reaction space containing the reaction region maybe increased, as depicted in FIGS. 9A and 9B. A reaction device 200includes a reaction space 202 containing reactant materials 204 andhaving a first volume in FIG. 9A. A remotely activatable control element206 forms an expandable portion of the wall of reaction device 200. Uponexpansion of remotely activatable control element to expanded form 206′shown in FIG. 9B the volume of reaction space 202 is increased. Theconcentration of reactant materials 204 within reaction space 202 isthus decreased, which may have a corresponding influence on the rate orkinetics of the reaction in which reactant material 204 participates.Similarly, while the increased volume may directly impact concentrationof the reactant materials 204, where the space contains compressiblefluids, driving a change in volume may produce corresponding changes inpressure or temperature according to conventional considerations of therelationships of pressure, volume, and temperature, which may in turninfluence a chemical reaction. For example, for a compressible fluidsuch as an ideal gas, the relationship may be defined by the ideal gaslaw, PV=nRT.

In addition to increasing surface areas or reaction volumes, expansionof a remotely activatable control element may also have the effect ofexposing additional portions of a reaction region or exposing additionalfunctional group to influence a reaction condition. Increasing thesurface area of the reaction region by unfolding or other forms of‘opening’ of the reaction region structure of at least a portion of thereaction area may increase the number of reaction sites on the reactionregion (e.g. by exposing additional reaction sites that were fully orpartially hidden or obstructed when the reaction region was in a foldedconfiguration). For example, the area of a reaction region may beincreased by the unfolding of at least a portion of the reaction area toexpose additional portions of the reaction area, as depicted in FIGS. 1OA and 1 OB. In FIG. 1 OA, a reaction region 250, which includes or ismade up of a remotely activatable control element can be expanded byunfolding to the form depicted in FIG. 1 OB. Reaction region 250 has apleated structure that includes ridges 252 a-252 e and valleys 254 a-254d. Reaction sites 256 may be located in or on ridges 252 a-252 e andvalleys 254 a-254 d. In the folded form illustrated in FIG. 1 OA,reaction sites 256 located in valleys 254 a-254 d are ‘hidden’ in thesense that reactants may not fit into the narrow valleys to approachthose reaction sites, while reaction sites on ridges 252 a-252 e remainexposed. When reaction region 250 is unfolded to the form shown in FIG.1 OB, reaction sites 256 in valleys 254 a-256 d are exposed, because theopen valleys permit access of reactants to the reaction sites in thevalleys. Examples of materials that unfold in response toelectromagnetic fields include ionic polymer-metal composites (IPMC) asdescribed in Shahinpoor et al., “Artificial Muscle Research Institute:Paper: Ionic Polymer-Metal Composites (IPMC) As Biomimetic Sensors,Actuators and Artificial Muscles-A Review”; Fundamentals of IPMC asBiomimetic Sensors, Robotic Actuators and Artificial Muscles thatappeared in the Journal of Smart Materials and Structures, Vol. 10, No.4, pp. 819-833, (2001) University of New Mexico; printed on Oct. 21,2005; pp. 1-28, which is incorporated herein by reference.

A related modification of the reaction region, as depicted generally inFIGS. 11A-11B, may include an increase in porosity or decrease indensity of a remotely activatable control element 300. Remotelyactivatable control element 300 is depicted in its unexpanded state inFIG. 11A, with multiple pores 302 of a first size; FIG. 11B illustratesthe expanded form of remotely activatable control element 300, in whichpores 302 have increased in size. Increase in porosity as depicted inFIGS. 11A and 11B may have a similar effect to the unfolding depicted inFIGS. 10A and 10B with respect to modifying the spacing or exposure ofreaction sites, functional groups, etc. See, for example U.S. Pat. Nos.5,643,246, 5,830,207, and 6,755,621, all of which are incorporatedherein by reference.

The effects illustrated in FIGS. 8A-8D, 9A-9B, 10A-10B, and 11A-11B maybe reversed by suitable adjustment to the control signal, leading tocorresponding decrease in reaction region surface area, volume of thereaction space, or number of exposed reaction sites.

The influence of modifying the surface area of a reaction region isdescribed further in connection with FIGS. 12A and 12B and 13A and 13B.FIGS. 12A and 12B illustrate how an increase of the surface area of areaction region by stretching or expansion may increase the rate of thereaction occurring at the reaction region. Multiple reaction sites 352are located in reaction region 350. As shown in FIG. 12A, prior tostretch or expansion, reaction sites 352 are close together, andreactant 354, which binds to the reaction sites 352 is sufficientlylarge that it is not possible for a reactant 354 to bind to eachreaction site 352. When the reaction region has been stretched orexpanded to expanded form 350′ as depicted in FIG. 12B, so that thereaction sites 352 are further apart, it is possible for reactant 354 tobind to a larger percentage of the reaction sites, thus increasing therate of reaction.

In other embodiments, an increase in the surface area of the reactionregion by stretching or expansion may decrease the reaction rate (forexample, in cases where a particular spacing is needed to permit bindingor association of reactants with several reaction sites simultaneously).FIGS. 13A and 13B illustrate how an increase in the surface area of areaction region 400 by stretching or expansion may decrease the rate ofthe reaction occurring at the reaction region. Again, multiple reactionsites 402 and 404 are located in the reaction region 400, as depicted inFIG. 13A. In the present example binding of a reactant to the reactionregion 400 requires binding of a reactant 406 to two reaction sites 402and 404. When reaction region is stretched or expanded to expanded form400′ as depicted in FIG. 13B, the spacing of the two reaction sites 402and 404 is changed so that reactant 406 does not readily bind toreaction region 400′, thus reducing the rate of reaction.

Accordingly, increasing the surface area of the reaction region maydecrease the rate of the reaction in some circumstance and increase therate of reaction in others. Exposure of additional portions of thereaction region may expose additional functional groups that are notreaction sites, but that may produce some local modification to asurface property of the reaction region that in turn modifies the rateor kinetics of the reaction. For example, exposed functional groups mayproduce at least a local change in pH, surface energy, or surfacecharge. See, for example, U.S. patent publication 2003/0142901 A1, whichis incorporated herein by reference.

As noted herein, a remotely activatable control element may respond tothe control signal by producing or by absorbing heat. In someembodiments, a change in temperature of the remotely activatable controlelement may modify the rate of a reaction directly. FIG. 14A depicts anembodiment of a reaction device 450 including a reaction region 452 in areaction space 456. A first material 454 capable of influencing areaction is located at reaction region 452. A remotely activatablecontrol element 458 is located in the wall of reaction device in thevicinity of reaction region 452. Remotely activatable control element458 has an initial temperature T₁. Following heating of remotelyactivatable control element 458 in response to an electromagneticcontrol signal, remotely activatable control element 458′ has asubsequent temperature T₂, as shown in FIG. 14B. The change intemperature of remotely activatable control element 458′ may modify therate of reaction within reaction device 450 by modifying the temperatureat one or both of reaction region 452 and reaction space 456.

Many materials expand when thermal energy is applied. By combiningmaterials as in polymer gels one can use the differing properties ofindividual components to affect the whole. Thermally-responsivematerials include thermally responsive gels (hydrogels) such asthermosensitive N-alkyl acrylamide polymers, Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)(PNIPAAm), biopolymers, crosslinked elastin-based networks, materialsthat undergo thermally triggered hydrogelation, memory foam, resincomposites, thermochromic materials, proteins, memory shape alloys,plastics, and thermoplastics. Materials that contract or fold inresponse to heating may include thermally-responsive gels (hydrogels)that undergo thermally triggered hydrogelation (e.g. Polaxamers,uncross-linked PNIPAAm derivatives, chitosan/glycerol formulations,elastin-based polymers), thermosetting resins (e.g. phenolic, melamine,urea and polyester resins), dental composites (e.g.monomethylacrylates), and thermoplastics.

A remotely activatable control element may respond to a control signalby producing cooling, either directly or indirectly, which may in turnmodify the rate, kinetics, or other feature of a reaction. Cooling maybe produced by a number of mechanisms and/or structures. For example,cooling may be produced by an endothermic reaction (such as the mixingof ammonium nitrate and water) initiated by opening of a valve orbursting of a container in response to an electromagnetic controlsignal. Other methods and/or mechanisms of producing cooling mayinclude, but are not limited to, thermoelectric (Peltier Effect) andliquid-gas-vaporization (Joule-Thomson) devices.

In some embodiments, a change in temperature of a remotely activatablecontrol element may modify the rate or other parameter of a reactionindirectly. FIG. 15A depicts an embodiment of a reaction device 480including a reaction region 482 in a reaction space 486. A firstmaterial 484 capable of influencing a reaction is located at reactionregion 482. A remotely activatable control element 488 is located in thewall of reaction device in the vicinity of reaction region 482. Remotelyactivatable control element 488 has an initial temperature T₁. Followingheating of remotely activatable control element 488 in response to anelectromagnetic control signal, remotely activatable control element 488has a subsequent temperature T₂, as shown in FIG. 15B. Heating ofremotely activatable control element 488 from T₁ to T₂ by a magnetic orelectric or electromagnetic field or radiation, may in turn cause anexpansion or other modification of reaction region 482. In the exemplaryembodiment depicted in FIGS. 15A and 15B, heating of remotelyactivatable control element 488 produces expansion of the reactionregion to expanded form 482′, which increases the spacing of reactionsites 484. As shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B and FIGS. 13A and 13B, a changein the spacing of reaction sites may increase or decrease the rate ofreaction, or modify another parameter of a reaction, in a manner thatdepends on the specific reaction and reactants. Heating or cooling of areaction volume may also modify a chemical reaction by modifying thepressure or the pH or the osmolality or other reaction-pertinentchemical variables within the reaction space.

In various embodiments as described herein, the reaction region includesa first material capable of influencing a chemical reaction. Theremotely activatable control element may modify one or more of the rateor reaction kinetics of the chemical reaction by modifying the influenceof the first material on the chemical reaction, or by modifying the rateof exposure of a reactant capable of participating in the chemicalreaction to the first material, as described herein.

The first material capable of influencing a chemical reaction mayinfluence the chemical reaction in a variety of ways. For example, thefirst material may be a reactant that is modified by participation inthe chemical reaction or it may be non-reactant material that modifiesat least one condition at which the reaction occurs. FIGS. 16A and 16B,17A and 17B, and 18A and 18B illustrate several mechanisms by which amaterial such as a first material may influence a chemical reaction.

FIGS. 16A and 16B depict a reaction 500 including a first material 502that participates in the reaction as a reactant. Reaction device 500also includes remotely activatable control element 504. A secondreactant 506 approaches reaction region 500 in FIG. 16A and reacts withfirst material 502 to form reaction product 508, which is shown beingreleased from reaction region 500 in FIG. 16B. A reaction by-product 510may remain at reaction region 500, or may be released from reactionregion 500. The quantity of first material 502 at reaction region 500 isthus depleted as the reaction occurs, and eventually the supply of firstmaterial 502 at reaction region 500 may be exhausted. The influence ofthe remotely activatable control element 504 is not illustrated in FIGS.16A and 16B, but may be any of various influences, including but notlimited to those described herein; e.g., modifying the temperature ofthe reaction region to modify the activity of first material 502,exposing reaction sites containing first material 502, modifying thespacing between reaction sites containing first material 502, ormodifying the rate of delivery of second reactant 506 to reaction region500. The reaction may produce a material that has a beneficial effect onthe organism, including but not limited to a nutrient, hormone, growthfactor, medication, therapeutic compound, enzyme, genetic materials,vaccines, vitamins, imaging agents, therapeutic compounds, a cellsignaling material or neurotransmitter. Alternatively, the reaction maydestroy, trap, or sequester a material from the body of the organismthat is harmful to the organism. Such a material may include, forexample lipids/cholesterol, plaque, infectious agents such as microbesand infectious/misfolded proteins such as prions, inflammatory agentssuch as cytokines/chemokines, growth factors, and autoreactiveantibodies, oxidants, toxins, poisons, toxins, heavy metals, pollutantsincluding organochlorine pollutants such as polychlorinated biphenyls(PCB) or dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p′-DDE) andorganophosphates, tobacco products, tar, or particulates. Reactions orprocesses by which a harmful material may be destroyed, trapped, orsequestered include degrading, chemically modifying, detoxifying,adsorbing, absorbing, enveloping, or killing the substance by chemicalreactions such as enzymatic degradation and modification (e.g., alcoholdehydrogenase to remove alcohol), neutralization of free radicals byantioxidant scavenging, and adsorption with magnetic particles (e.g.labelled with binding moieties such as antibodies) for separation orsequestering, as a few examples.

In other embodiments, the first material may be a catalyst thatfacilitates a chemical reaction but is not modified by the chemicalreaction, for example, metals such as platinum, acid-base catalysts,catalytic nucleic acids such as ribozymes or DNAzymes. The firstmaterial may be an enzyme, such as an oxidoreductase (e.g. glucoseoxidase), transferase (including glycosyltransferase,kinase/phosphorylase), hydrolase, lyase, isomerase, ligase, andenzymatic complexes and/or cofactors. Various examples of catalysts areprovided in Kozhevnikov, “Catalysts for Fine Chemical Synthesis, Volume2, Catalysis by Polyoxometalates”; Chipsbooks.com; Bearing dates of 2002and 19982006, printed on Oct. 21, 2005; pp 1-3 (201 pages); Volume 2;Culinary and Hospitality Industry Publications Service, which isincorporated herein by reference.

FIGS. 17A and 17B depict an example in which a reaction region 550includes a first material 552 that is a catalyst that facilitates theoccurrence of the reaction at reaction region 550. Two or possibly morereactants (for example reactants 556 and 558 as shown in FIG. 17A) reactat the reaction region 550 in the presence of first material 552.Reactants 556 and 558 are shown approaching first material 552 inreaction region 550 in FIG. 17A. In FIG. 17B, reaction product 560,formed from the reaction of reactants 556 and 558 with catalysis byfirst material 552, is shown being released from reaction region 550.Depending upon the particular reaction being carried out, one or morereaction by-products may be produces in addition to reaction product560; however, such by-products are not depicted in FIG. 17B. A remotelyactivatable control element 554 may modify the effect of first material552 on the reaction, by various mechanisms as described elsewhereherein. The supply of first material 556 at reaction region 550 is notdepleted as the reaction occurs.

FIGS. 18A and 18B depict an embodiment of a reaction region 600 in whichthe first material 602 modifies a reaction condition. The first material602 may be a material that modifies the polarity of at least a portionof the reaction region, such as e.g hydrophobic or hydrophilic groups; amaterial that modifies the pH of at least a portion of the reactionregion, such as acids or acidifiers (e.g., ammonium chloride), bases oralkalizers (sodium bicarbonate, sodium acetate) or buffering agents; ora material that modifies the charge of at least a portion of thereaction region, such as including various enzyme, neuraminidase,transferase, antioxidants, and charge donors. A first reactant 606 isshown at reaction region 600. First reactant 606 reacts with a secondreactant 608 to form a reaction product 610, shown in FIG. 18B, with therate, kinetics, or other parameter of the reaction influenced by firstmaterial 602. A remotely activatable control element 604 may modify theeffect of first material 602 by various mechanisms as describedelsewhere herein. FIG. 18A depicts second reactant 608 approachingreaction region 600, and FIG. 18B shows reaction product 610 beingreleased from reaction region 600.

As illustrated and described herein, in certain embodiments, thereaction device may include a body structure adapted for positioning ina body of an organism, having a reaction region located in or on thebody structure, where the reaction region includes a first materialcapable of influencing a chemical reaction, and a remotely activatablecontrol element operably coupled to the body structure and responsive toan electromagnetic field control signal to modify one or more of therate or kinetics of the chemical reaction. The organism may be an animalor a human, or it may be plant. In some embodiments, the remotelyactivatable control element may modify one or more of the rate orreaction kinetics of the chemical reaction by modifying the influence ofthe first material on the chemical reaction, while in other cases theremotely activatable control element may modify one or more of the rateor reaction kinetics of the chemical reaction by modifying the rate ofexposure of a reactant capable of participating in the chemical reactionto the first material.

Although various embodiments have described in connection with selectedbiomedical applications (e.g., with reaction devices adapted forplacement in the body of a human or other animal), it is contemplatedthat reaction systems as described herein may be used in a variety ofenvironments, not limited to the bodies of humans or other animals.Reaction devices may be placed in other types of living organisms (e.g.,plants). Reaction devices may also be placed in bodies of water, or invarious enclosed fluid volumes, in industrial, agricultural, and variousother types of applications. The environments for use of embodimentsdescribed herein are merely exemplary, and the reaction systems asdisclosed herein are not limited to use in the exemplary applications.

Beneficial materials in environment may include fertilizers, nutrients,remediation agents, antibiotics/microbicides, herbicides, fungicides,disinfectants. Harmful materials in an environment may include varioustoxins and pollutants, including hydrocarbon compounds, heavy metals,ore tailings, complex polysaccharide waste products, pathogens,microorganisms, toxins, bioweapons, chemical weapons, phosphates,explosives, and radionuclides. Reactions to get rid of harmful materialsfrom an environment may include degrading, chemically modifying,detoxifying, adsorbing, absorbing, enveloping, or killing the substance.Materials may be adsorbed with electric or magnetic beads or particlesfor separation or sequestering, or enzymatic degradation or modificationmay be performed (see “Characterization of Chemically Modified Enzymesfor Bioremediation Reactions”, Davison et al., Final Report, U.S.Department of Energy, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Project Number55033, Sep. 22, 2000, which is incorporated herein by reference.)

According to various general embodiments, a reaction device may includea body structure adapted for positioning in an environment, a reactionregion located in or on the body structure, the reaction regionincluding a first material capable of influencing a chemical reaction,and a remotely activatable control element operably coupled to the bodystructure and responsive to input of energy from electromagnetic fieldcontrol signal to modify one or more of the rate or kinetics of thechemical reaction through at least one of a mechanical, thermal, orchemical mechanism, which may be a direct mechanical, thermal, orchemical mechanism not mediated by electrical circuitry within orconnected to the remotely activatable control element.

Further features that may be employed in reaction devices and systemsare described in connection with certain exemplary embodiments, but mayalso be employed in other embodiments as described herein. As describedherein, a remotely activatable control element may modify one or more ofthe rate or reaction kinetics of a chemical reaction by modifying theinfluence of a first material on the chemical reaction. In otherembodiments, a remotely activatable control element may modify the rateor reaction kinetics of a chemical reaction by modifying the exposure ofa reactant capable of participating in the chemical reaction to thefirst material. The exposure of a reactant to a first material may bemodified by modifying the flow of a reactant through a reaction device,for example. In embodiments in which the reaction region is located inan interior portion of the body structure, the reaction device mayinclude a valve responsive to a change in at least one dimension of theremotely activatable control element. The valve may be formed in itsentirety by the remotely activatable control element, or the remotelyactivatable control element may form a part of the valve or the valveactuation mechanism. If the remotely activatable control element formsall or a part of a valve structure or system, it may modify the rate orkinetics of the reaction occurring in the reaction device by modifyingthe flow of fluid into or through the reaction device. The remotelyactivatable control element may respond to the control signal bychanging in at least one dimension, and may include various materials,for example polymer, ceramic, dielectric or metal. For example, theremotely activatable control element may include a shape memory materialsuch as a shape memory polymer, a memory foam, or a shape memory alloysuch as nitinol (an alloy of titanium and nickel) or ferromagnetic shapememory materials (Ni₂MnGa alloy). The remotely activatable controlelement may include a bimetallic structure.

FIGS. 19 and 20 depict embodiments in which the flow of reactant througha reaction device may be modified by the inclusion of a valve at aninlet or outlet of the reaction device. In FIG. 19, a reaction device650 includes a reaction region 652 including first material 654.Reaction device 650 includes inlet 656 and outlet 658. In this example,remotely activatable control element 660 is a valve structure formedfrom a shape memory material. The rate of reaction may be modified byadjusting the valve to control the flow of fluid through the reactiondevice. The open position of the valve formed by remotely activatablecontrol element 660 is indicated by a solid line, while the closedposition is indicated by a dashed line. Other potential materials andstructures for valves may be as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,682,521,6,755,621, 6,720,402, 6,607,553, which are incorporated herein byreference.

In the embodiment of FIG. 20, the remotely activatable control elementmay include an expandable gel structure, such as hydrogel or a ferrogel.FIG. 20 depicts a reaction device 670 having a reaction region 672including first material 674 and an inlet 676 and outlet 678 providingfor the flow of fluid through the reaction device from the environment.Remotely activatable control element 680 forms a valve for controllingthe flow of fluid into the reaction device, shown in its open(contracted) form by a solid line and shown in its closed (expanded)form by a dashed line. The rate of reaction may be modified by adjustingthe valve to control the flow of fluid through the reaction device. Anexample of a magnetically controlled hydrogel valve is described in “Atemperature controlled micro valve for biomedical applications using atemperature sensitive hydrogel” Micro Total Analysis Systems Symposium,November 3-7, Nara, Japan, 1:142-144 H. J. van der Linden, D. J. Beebe,and P. Bergveld (2002), incorporated herein by reference.

In addition to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, in otherembodiments a reaction device may include valves controlling fluid flowthrough both an inlet and an outlet. Various other remotely activatablevalve structures may be used in other embodiments, and are not limitedto the examples provided here.

Remotely activatable control elements used in various generalembodiments of reaction devices and systems may include a magneticallyactive material, such as at least one of a permanently magnetizablematerial, a ferromagnetic material, a ferrimagnetic material, a ferrousmaterial, a ferric material, a diamagnetic material, a paramagneticmaterial, and an antiferromagnetic material, or may include anelectrically active material, such as at least one of a permanently‘poled’ dielectric, a ferroelectric, a dielectric or a piezoelectricmaterial. In some embodiments the remotely activatable control elementmay include a polymer and a magnetically active or an electricallyactive component. The electrically or magnetically active component maybe heatable by the incident electromagnetic control signal, whereinheating of the electrically or magnetically active component causes thepolymer to undergo a change in configuration that modifies the influenceof the first material on the chemical reaction. In some embodiments, thetemperature may be modified within some or all of a reaction volumewithin a reaction device, while in other embodiments the temperaturechange may be limited to a reaction region and the temperature withinthe reaction volume may remain substantially unchanged. In someembodiments, the rate of reaction may be directly dependent upon thetemperature of the reaction region or reaction volume. In someembodiments, a characteristic of the reaction other than the rate ofreaction may be modified by a change in temperature. For example, achange in temperature may cause a particular reaction product to befavored over another reaction product, so that changing the temperaturemay modify the proportions of certain reaction products.

A remotely activatable control element may be responsive to variouselectromagnetic fields, including a static or quasi-static electricalfield or static or quasi-static magnetic field, or radio-frequency,microwave, infrared, millimeter wave, optical, or ultravioletelectromagnetic radiation. In some embodiments, the remotely activatablecontrol element may be responsive to non-ionizing electromagneticradiation. The response of the remotely activatable control element toan electromagnetic field may be due to absorption of energy from theelectromagnetic signal or due to torque or traction on all or a portionof the remotely activatable control element due to the electromagneticfield. The response will depend upon the intensity, the relativeorientation and the frequency of the electromagnetic field and upon thegeometry, composition and preparation of the material of the remotelyactivatable control element. A response may occur on the macro level, ona microscopic level, or at a nanoscopic or molecular level.

In some embodiments, a remotely activatable control element may includea receiving element such as an antenna or other geometric gain structureto enhance the receiving of an electromagnetic control signaltransmitted from a remote control signal generator. FIG. 21 depicts inschematic form an embodiment of a reaction device 700 including aremotely activatable control element 702 that includes an active portion704 and a receiving element 706, and a reaction region 708. Reactionregion 708 may be generally as described in connection with variousexemplary embodiments, for example as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, but itnot depicted in any detail in FIG. 21 for the sake of simplicity.Receiving element 706 may be any structure that has a size, shape, andmaterial that is suitable for receiving and transducing electromagneticenergy of a particular frequency or frequency band. In some embodiments,receiving element 706 may be highly frequency-selective, while in otherembodiments it may react usefully over a wide frequency band, or overmultiple frequency bands. Receiving element 706 may be formed of variousmetallic or electrically or magnetically active materials. Activeportion 704 may include various materials that respond mechanically,thermally or chemically to electromagnetic energy received andtransduced by receiving element 706 to influence a reaction that occursin reaction region 708.

FIG. 22 depicts an embodiment of a reaction device 750 including aremotely activatable control element 752 that includes an active portion754 and a resonant element 756, and a reaction region 758. As in theembodiment of FIG. 21, reaction region 758 may be generally as describedin connection with various exemplary embodiments. Resonant element 756may be configured to be activated or energized at a resonant frequencyin response to the electromagnetic control signal. Active portion 754may include various materials that respond mechanically, thermally orchemically in response to transfer of energy from resonant element 756upon activation thereof to influence a reaction that occurs in reactionregion 758.

FIG. 23 depicts a reaction device 800 including a reaction space 802. Inthis embodiment, a plurality of molecules 804 function as both theremotely activatable control element and as the first material (thatmodifies the chemical reaction). A reactant material 808 is also presentwithin reaction space 802. Each molecule 804 includes an excitablechemical bond 806. Prior to excitation of excitable chemical bond 806,no or limited reaction occurs, as shown in FIG. 23. After excitation ofexcitable chemical bond 806 to excited condition 806′, as shown in FIG.24, reactant material 808 may bind or associate with molecule 804 toundergo a chemical reaction. Selective excitation of multiple chemicalbonds may be performed in some embodiments, as described in Ishikawa etal., “Selective Resonance of Chemical Structures,” U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/186,635, filed 21 Jul. 2005, which isincorporated herein by reference, and commonly assigned with the presentapplication.

FIG. 25 depicts a further embodiment of a reaction device 850,illustrating other potential reaction device features. Reaction device850 includes a first chamber 852, second chamber 854, reaction region856, and remotely activatable control element 858. Reaction device 850also includes inlet 860, outlet 862, pump 864, valve 866 between chamber852 and chamber 854 and valve 868 at outlet 862. First chamber 852 mayfunction as a reaction chamber. Pump 864 may move fluid through reactiondevice 850. Any or all of features illustrated in FIG. 25 may beincluded in various embodiments of reaction devices. Reaction devicesmay include multiple spaces or chambers, one or more os which mayfunction as reaction chambers. Reaction devices may include additionalfluid handling elements (e.g., inlets, outlets, pumps, valves, mixers,serperators, chambers, channels, reservoirs, and so forth, as are knownto those of skill in the arts of fluid handling). Active elements (whichmay include, for example, pumps, valves, and mixers) may be controlledby electrical, magnetic, or electromagnetic control signals. A reactiondevice may include one or both of an outlet through which a product ofthe chemical reaction is released into the environment or an inletthrough which a second material capable of participating in the chemicalreaction enters the reaction region. Some embodiments may include only asingle inlet and a single outlet. In some embodiments a single openingmay function as both inlet and outlet. In some embodiments there may bemultiple inlets or multiple outlets, or both. The invention is notlimited to specific numbers or combinations of inlets, outlets, oropenings that function as both inlet and outlet. Although in theexemplary embodiment of FIG. 25 the reaction region is shown in aninterior portion of a reaction device, in other embodiments the reactionregion may be located on an exterior portion of the body structure influid communication with the environment. If the reaction region is influid communication with the environment via an inlet or outlet, thereaction device may include a valve responsive to a change in at leastone dimension of the remotely activatable control element. A valve maybe configured to modify the flow of fluid into the reaction regionresponsive to the change in at least one dimension of a remotelyactivatable control element, or to modify the flow of fluid out of thereaction region responsive to the change in at least one dimension ofthe remotely activatable control element. Examples of fluid handlingstructures suitable for use in selected embodiments are described inU.S. Pat. Nos. 6,146,103 and 6,802,489, and in KrauB et al., “Fluidpumped by magnetic stress”; Bearing a date of Jul. 1, 2004; pp. 1-3;Applied Physics Letters 86, 024102 (2005), all of which are incorporatedherein by reference.

Reaction devices as described herein may include one or multipleremotely activatable control elements. In devices that include multipleremotely activatable control elements, the multiple remotely activatablecontrol elements may all be of the same type, or may be of differenttypes. Multiple remotely activatable control elements may be activatedor controlled in parallel or in series. Selective activation or controlof remotely activatable control elements may be achieved by configuringremotely activatable control elements to be activated by electromagneticcontrol signals having particular signal characteristics, which mayinclude, for example, particular frequency, phase, amplitude, temporalprofile, polarization, and/or directional characteristics, and spatialvariations thereof. For example, different control elements may beresponsive to different frequency components of a control signal,thereby allowing selective activation of the different control elements.A reaction device may include multiple selectively activatable controlelements, each associated with a particular fluid handling element,which may thus be controlled to perform multiple fluid-handling orreaction steps in a particular sequence. It is also contemplated that areaction system may include multiple reaction devices which may be ofthe same or different types. For example, multiple identical reactiondevices may be distributed throughout an environment in order to performa particular chemical reaction or process at multiple locations withinthe environment. Alternatively, a reaction system may include multipledifferent reaction devices at different locations within andenvironment, each performing or controlling a reaction suited for theparticular location. The invention as described herein is not limited todevices or systems including any specific number or configuration ofremotely activatable control elements within a reaction device, orspecific number or configuration of reaction devices or remotecontrollers within a reaction system. Depending upon the particularapplication of a system, remotely activatable control elements and/orreaction devices may be controlled in a particular pattern to accomplishone or more desired chemical reactions or reaction steps. Control ofsuch systems may be performed with the use of suitable hardware,firmware, or software, through one or multiple remote controllers.

A change in dimension of the remotely activatable control element mayserve to cause opening or closing of a valve or produce anothermodification of a portion of a reaction device. For example, additionalportions of the reaction region may be exposed responsive to the changein at least one dimension of the remotely activatable control element.The surface area of the reaction region may be increased responsive to achange in at least one dimension of the remotely activatable controlelement. The volume containing the reaction region within the interiorportion of the body structure may be modified responsive to the changein at least one dimension of the remotely activatable control element.The surface area of the reaction area may be increased by stretching ofat least a portion of the reaction area. In some embodiments, thesurface area of the reaction area may be increased by the unfolding ofat least a portion of the reaction area to expose additional portions ofthe reaction area, as depicted in FIGS. 10A and 10B, or in FIGS. 26A and26B. FIG. 26A illustrates in cross section the increase in the number ofaccessible functional groups on a reaction region by unfolding of areaction region 900. The reaction region is pleated, including ridges902 and recessed valleys 904. Functional groups 906 are located withinvalleys 904 of the pleats. Stretching of the reaction region 900 toflatten and widen valleys 904 causes the functional groups 906 to becomeaccessible to reactant, thus increasing influence of the functionalgroups as shown in FIG. 26B. The functional groups may have variousinfluences, for example, functioning as reaction sites, or modifying thesurface charge, surface energy, or local ionic strength or pH. It shouldbe appreciated that the pleated surface depicted in FIGS. 26A and 26Bare exemplary, and other forms of folding, deformation, or compressionof the reaction region may provide a similar effect.

As described previously in connection with FIGS. 12A-13B, increasing thesurface area of the reaction region may increase or decrease the rate ofthe reaction. Increasing the surface area of the reaction region mayincrease the number of (available) reaction sites on the reactionregion, as illustrated in FIGS. 26A and 26B.

In some embodiments, a remotely activatable control element may respondto a control signal by liberating or absorbing heat. The remotelyactivatable control element may respond to the control signal bychanging shape. Such a remotely activatable control element may include,for example, a valve element or a structural element. FIG. 27 is across-sectional view of an embodiment of a valve 949 in channel 950defined by walls 952 and including a remotely activatable valve element954 positioned in a channel 950. Valve element 954 may be a magneticallyor electrically responsive element formed from, for example, aferropolymer or other material responsive to applied magnetic orelectric or electromagnetic fields or radiation. Valve element may havea first form 954, indicated by the solid outline, when exposed to afirst magnetic or electric field strength, and a second form 954′,indicated by the dashed outline, when exposed to a second magnetic orelectric field strength. Valves of this type are disclosed, for example,in “A temperature controlled micro valve for biomedical applicationsusing a temperature sensitive hydrogel” Micro Total Analysis SystemsSymposium, November 3-7, Nara, Japan, 1:142-144, H. J. van der Linden,D. J. Beebe, and P. Bergveld (2002), incorporated herein by reference.See also U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,643,246, 5,830,207, and 6,755,621, which arealso incorporated herein by reference. In first form 954, valve element954 obstructs channel 950, blocking the flow of fluid through valve 949.In its second form 954′, valve element 954 does not obstruct channel950, and fluid flow through valve 949 is unimpeded.

FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of another type ofvalve 969, in which fluid channel 970 defined by walls 972 includes aremotely activatable valve element 974. Remotely activatable valveelement 974 is formed, for example from a bimetallic strip that changesfrom a first configuration to a second configuration during heatingproduced by exposure to a magnetic or electric or electromagnetic fieldor radiation control signal.

In these and other valve structures (e.g., as depicted in FIG. 19),opening or closing of the valve may be produced by a transientapplication of a magnetic or electric or electromagnetic control signal,the control signal serving to cause switching of the valve element froma first configuration to a second configuration, or continuousapplication of a control signal may be required to maintain the valveelement in one of the two configurations, with the valve elementreturning to the other configuration upon removal of the control signal.Such a valve elements may be formed from a shape memory metal, a shapememory polymer, or a bimetallic strip formed from laminated layer ofmetals having different coefficients of thermal expansion, for example.The construction of such valve elements is known to those of skill inthe relevant arts, for example.

The reaction device may include an outlet through which a product of thechemical reaction is released into the environment or an inlet throughwhich a second material capable of participating in the chemicalreaction enters the reaction region. The first material included in thereaction region may influence the reaction in various ways. The firstmaterial may be a reactant that is modified by participation in thechemical reaction, or it may be a non-reactant material that modifies atleast one condition at which the reaction occurs. Reaction conditionsmay include, for example, temperature, osmolality, pH, surface energy,or surface charge at the reaction. The first material may be a catalystthat facilitates the chemical reaction but is not modified by thechemical reaction. The reaction may produce a material that has abeneficial effect in the environment, or it may destroy, trap, orsequester a harmful material from the environment.

In different embodiments, the reaction device may include a bodystructure adapted for positioning in different types of environments,including, for example, the body of an organism, a body of water, or acontained fluid volume. Contained fluid volumes may be of various typesand of various volumes; some examples include industrial fluid volumes,agricultural fluid volumes, swimming pools, aquariums, drinking watersupplies, and HVAC system cooling water supplies.

FIG. 29 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a reaction system 999 inwhich a reaction device 12 is located in a small enclosed fluid volume1000 (e.g., an aquarium). A remote controller or remote control signalgenerator 16 is located outside enclosed fluid volume 1000.

FIG. 30 illustrates a further exemplary embodiment of a reaction system1001 in which a reaction device 12 is located in a larger enclosed fluidvolume 1002 (which may be, for example, a water storage tank, an HVACsystem cooling water tank, a tank containing an industrial fluid or anagricultural fluid). A remote controller or remote control signalgenerator 16 is located outside enclosed fluid volume 1002.

FIG. 31 illustrates a further exemplary embodiment of a reaction system1003 in which a reaction device 12 is located in a body of water 1004 (alake or pond is depicted here; though such reaction systems may also bedesigned for use in rivers, streams, or oceans). The remote controlleror remote control signal generator 16 is shown located outside of bodyof water 1004, though in some embodiments it may be advantageous toplace remote controller 16 at a location within body of water 1004.

Referring back to FIG. 6, remote controller 102 for a reaction system100 may include an electromagnetic signal generator 114 capable ofproducing an electromagnetic signal configured to be received by aremotely activatable control element 108 of a reaction device 104located in an environment 106 and to activate the remotely activatablecontrol element mechanically, thermally or chemically to produce adesired rate of a chemical reaction in the reaction device 104, and anelectromagnetic signal transmitter 116 capable of transmitting theelectromagnetic signal to the remotely activatable control element. Theelectromagnetic signal generator may include electrical circuitry 112and/or a microprocessor. In some embodiments, the electromagnetic signalmay be produced at least in part according to a pre-programmed pattern.The electromagnetic signal may have a strength and frequency compositionsufficient to produce a change in dimension in the remotely activatablecontrol element, e.g. a contraction or expansion in at least onedimension. In some embodiments, the electromagnetic signal may havestrength and frequency composition sufficient to produce a change intemperature or change in shape or position or orientation in theremotely activatable control element. For example, the electromagneticsignal may have strength and frequency composition sufficient to producea change in shape in a remotely activatable control element comprising ashape memory material such as a shape memory metal or shape memorypolymer, a bimetallic structure, or a polymeric material. The change inshape in a remotely activatable control element may causes opening orclosing of a valve. In other embodiments, the change in shape in aremotely activatable control element may cause expansion of a reactionregion or an increase or decrease in volume of a reaction space.

Various embodiments of remote controller or remote control signalgenerators are illustrated in schematic form in FIGS. 32-34. FIG. 32depicts a reaction system including a remote controller 1050, whichtransmits an electromagnetic control signal 1052 to reaction device 1054positioned in environment 1056. Reaction device 1054 may include aremotely activatable control element 1058, as described previously.Remote controller 1050 may include a signal input 1051 adapted forreceiving a feedback signal 1060 from sensor 1062 in environment 1056,and electromagnetic control signal 1052 may be determined based at leastin part upon feedback signal 1060. Feedback signal 1060 may correspond,for example, to the concentration or activity of a chemical in theenvironment, the osmolality or pH of the environment, or the pressure ortemperature of the environment. Remote controller 1050 may includeelectrical circuitry 1064, signal generator 1066, signal transmitter1068, and memory 1070, for example. Feedback from sensor 1062 may betransmitted wirelessly from reaction device 1054, or in some embodimentssent via a wire connection.

In some embodiments, the remote controller may include a signal inputadapted for receiving a feedback signal from the reaction device, andthe electromagnetic signal may be determined based at least in part uponthe feedback signal. The feedback signal may be obtained from a sensorwithin the reaction device 1104. Examples of sensors are described in,U.S. Pat. No. 6,935,165, and U.S. Patent Publication 2004/0007051, bothof which are incorporated herein by reference. FIG. 33 depicts areaction system including remote controller 1100, which transmitselectromagnetic control signal 1102 to reaction device 1104, which ispositioned in environment 1106. Reaction device 1104 includes remotelyactivatable control element 1108 and sensor 1110, which produces afeedback signal 1112 that may be transmitted wirelessly back to remotecontroller 1100. Remote controller 1100 may include processor 1114,signal generator 1116, signal transmitter 1118, and memory 1120.

FIG. 34 illustrates a further embodiment of a reaction system in whichremote controller 1150 includes input 1160 for receiving input ofinformation or instructions from a user such as, for example, commands,variables, durations, amplitudes, frequencies, waveforms, data storageor retrieval instructions, patient data, etc. As in the otherembodiments, remote controller 1150 transmits electromagnetic controlsignal 1152 to reaction device 1154 in environment 1156, where itactivates remotely activatable control element 1158. Input 1160 mayinclude one or more input devices such as a keyboard, keypad,microphone, mouse, etc. for direct input of information from a user, orinput 1160 may be any of various types of analog or digital data inputsor ports, including data read devices such as disk drives, memory devicereaders, and so forth in order to receive information or data in digitalor electronic form. Data or instructions entered via input 1160 may beused by electrical circuitry 1162 to modify the operation of remotecontroller 1150 to modulate generation of an electromagnetic controlsignal 1152 by signal generator 1164 and transmission of the controlsignal 1152 by transmitter 1166.

The electromagnetic control signal may be produced based at least inpart upon a predetermined activation pattern. As shown in FIG. 35, apredetermined activation pattern may include a set of stored data 1202a, 1202 b, 1202 c, 1202 d, . . . 1202 e, having values f(t₁), f(t₂),f(t₃), f(t₄), . . . f(t_(N)), stored in a memory location 1200. Theactivation pattern upon which the electromagnetic signal is based isdepicted in plot 1204 in FIG. 35. In plot 1204, time t_(n) is indicatedon axis 1206 and signal amplitude f(t_(n)), which is a function oft_(n), is indicated on axis 1208. The value of the electromagneticsignal over time is represented by trace 1210. The predeterminedactivation pattern represented by data 1202 a, 1202 b, 1202 c, 1202 d, .. . 1202 e may be based upon calculation, measurements, or any othermethod that may be used for producing an activation pattern suitable foractivating a remotely activatable control element. Memory 1200 may be amemory location in a remote controller. As an example, a simple remotecontroller may include a stored activation pattern in memory and includeelectrical circuitry configured to generate an electromagnetic controlsignal according to the pattern for a preset duration or at presetintervals, without further input of either feedback information or userdata. In a more complex embodiment, a predetermined activation patternmay be generated in response to certain feedback or user inputconditions.

An electromagnetic signal may also be produced based upon a model-basedcalculation. As shown in FIG. 36, an activation pattern f(t_(n)) may bea function not only of time (t_(n)) but also of model parameters P₁, P₂,. . . P_(k), as indicated by equation 1250. Data 1252 a, 1252 b, . . .1252 c having values P₁, P₂, . . . P_(k) may be stored in memory 1254,as shown in FIG. 36. An electromagnetic control signal may be computedfrom the stored model parameters and time information. For example, asindicated in plot 1256, time is indicated on axis 1258 and the strengthor amplitude of the electromagnetic control signal is indicated on axis1260, so that trace 1261 represents f(t_(n)). As discussed previously inconnection with FIG. 35, memory 1254 may be a memory location in aremote controller. The remote controller may generate an electromagneticcontrol signal based upon the stored function and correspondingparameters. In some embodiments, the electromagnetic control signal mayalso be a function of one or more feedback signals (from the reactiondevice or the environment, for example) or of some user input of data orinstructions.

FIG. 37 depicts a remote controller 1300 having a memory 1304 capable ofstoring pre-determined data values or parameters used in model-basedcalculation, as described in connection with FIGS. 35 and 36. Remotecontroller 1300 may also include processor 1302, signal generator 1312,and signal transmitter 1314 for transmitting electromagnetic controlsignal 1316, generally as described previously. Memory 1304 may includememory location 1306 for containing a stored activation pattern or modelparameters; portions of memory 1304 may also be used for storingoperating system, program code, etc. for use by processor 1302. Thecontroller 1300 may also include a beam director 1318, such as anantenna, optical element, mirror, transducer, or other structure thatmay impact control of electromagnetic signaling.

Electromagnetic control signals may have a variety of parameters orcharacteristics that may be selected or controlled. In some cases, theelectromagnetic signal may have one or both of a defined magnetic fieldstrength or defined electric field strength. An electromagnetic signalgenerator may be capable of producing an electromagnetic signal thatincludes a static or quasi-static magnetic field or electrical field.Various embodiments of electromagnetic signal generators may be capableof producing an electromagnetic signal that includes non-ionizingelectromagnetic radiation. In selected embodiments, an electromagneticsignal generator may be capable of producing an electromagnetic signalthat includes one or more of radio-frequency, microwave, millimeterwave, or optical, including without limitation, infrared, visible,X-ray, or ultraviolet, electromagnetic radiation.

FIG. 38 depicts an example of an electromagnetic waveform. In plot 1350,time is plotted on axis 1352, and electromagnetic field strength isplotted on axis 1354. Trace 1356 has the form of a square wave,switching between zero amplitude and a non-zero amplitude, A.

FIG. 39 depicts another example of an electromagnetic waveform. In plot1400, time is plotted on axis 1402, and electromagnetic field strengthis plotted on axis 1404. Trace 1406 includes bursts 1408 and 1410,during which the field strength varies between A and −A, at a selectedfrequency, and interval 1412, during which field strength is zero.

FIG. 40 depicts another example of an electromagnetic waveform. In plot1450, time is plotted on axis 1452, and electromagnetic field strengthis plotted on axis 1454. Trace 1456 includes bursts 1458, and 1462,during which the field strength varies between A and −A at a firstfrequency, and burst 1460, during which the field strength variesbetween B and −B at a second (lower) frequency. Different frequenciesmay be selectively received by certain individuals or classes ofremotely activatable control elements within a device or systemincluding multiple remotely activatable control elements. Anelectromagnetic control signal may be characterized by one or morefrequencies, phases, amplitudes, or polarizations. An electromagneticcontrol signal may have a characteristic temporal profile and direction,and characteristic spatial dependences.

In one exemplary embodiment, a reaction system may include a reactiondevice responsive to a static or quasi-static magnetic field controlsignal, and a remote controller configured to generate a static orquasi-static magnetic field control signal. A system comprising a bodystructure adapted for positioning in an environment; a reaction regionlocated in or on the body structure including a first material capableof influencing a chemical reaction; and a remotely activatable controlelement operably coupled to the body structure and responsive to astatic or quasi-static electric or magnetic field control signal tomodify one or more of the rate or kinetics of the chemical reaction. Theremotely activatable control element may modify one or more of the rateor kinetics of the chemical reaction by modifying the influence of thefirst material on the chemical reaction. Alternatively, or in addition,the remotely activatable control element may modify the rate of exposureof a reactant capable of participating in the chemical reaction to thefirst material. As described in connection with other exemplaryembodiments, the remotely activatable control element may includematerials and structures such as a polymers, ceramics, dielectrics,metals, shape memory materials, bimetallic structures, magnetically orelectric active materials, hydrogels, ferrogels, ferroelectrics,piezoelectrics, and composites or combinations of materials.

The remotely activatable control element may respond to the controlsignal by changing in at least one dimension. The reaction region may belocated in an interior portion of the body structure and be at leastintermittently in fluid communication with the environment via at leastone inlet or outlet. Alternatively, in other embodiments the reactionregion may be located on an exterior portion of the body structure influid communication with the environment. The reaction device mayinclude a valve responsive to a change in at least one dimension of theremotely activatable control element to modify the flow of fluid into orout of the reaction region responsive to the change in at least onedimension of the remotely activatable control element. Additionalportions of the reaction region may be exposed responsive to the changein at least one dimension of the remotely activatable control element.The surface area of the reaction region may be increased responsive tothe change in at least one dimension of the remotely activatable controlelement. The system volume containing the reaction region within theinterior portion of the body structure may be increased responsive tothe change in at least one dimension of the remotely activatable controlelement. Exposure of additional portions of the reaction region mayexpose additional functional groups to produce at least a local changein osmolality or pH, surface energy, or surface charge.

In some embodiments of the system, the remotely activatable controlelement may respond to the control signal by producing or absorbing heator by changing shape. The remotely activatable control element mayinclude a valve element or a structural element. The system may includean outlet through which a product of the chemical reaction is releasedinto the environment or an inlet through which a second material capableof participating in the chemical reaction enters the reaction region.The first material, included in the reaction region, may be a reactantthat is modified by participation in the chemical reaction or anon-reactant material that modifies at least one condition at which thereaction occurs. The first material may be a catalyst that facilitatesthe chemical reaction but is not significantly modified by the chemicalreaction. The body structure may be adapted for positioning in anenvironment selected from a body of an organism, a body of water, or acontained fluid volume, which may be, for example, an industrial fluidvolume, an agricultural fluid volume, a swimming pool, an aquarium, adrinking water supply, and an HVAC system cooling water supply.

FIGS. 41A and 41B depict a reaction device 1500 which includes bodystructure 1502, inlet 1504, and outlet 1506. In FIG. 41A, magneticallyor electrically responsive elements 1510, each of which is coupled to afirst material 1508, are disposed within the reaction space 1509 withinbody structure 1502. First material 1508 is a material that influencesor participates in a chemical reaction. Upon application of a magneticor electric field, magnetically or electrically responsive elements 1510move to a wall of body structure 1502, so that the effectiveconcentration of first material 1508 within reaction space 1509 isreduced as depicted in FIG. 41B. Reaction device 1500 represents anotheralternative embodiment of a system include a remotely activatablecontrol element; in this case magnetically or electrically responsiveelements 1510 function as remotely activatable control elements.

A remote controller capable of producing a static or quasi-staticelectromagnetic control signal and suitable for use in a reaction systemas just described may include an electromagnetic signal generatorcapable of producing a static or quasi-static magnetic or electric fieldcontrol signal sufficient to produce activation of a remotelyactivatable magnetically or electrically responsive control element of areaction device located in an environment to produce a desired rate of achemical reaction in the reaction device and an electromagnetic signaltransmitter capable of transmitting the static or quasi-static magneticor electric field control signal to the remotely activatablemagnetically or electrically responsive control element through theenvironment when the remote controller is positioned at a locationremote from the reaction device. Such a remote controller may includeelectrical circuitry. The electromagnetic signal generator may includeone or more electromagnets or permanent magnets or electric fieldgenerators or poled electrets. The electromagnetic signal produced bythe remote controller may have a strength sufficient to produce a changein dimension or position or orientation in the remotely activatablecontrol element, the change in dimension or position or orientationcausing a change in the rate of the chemical reaction in the reactiondevice. In some embodiments, the magnetic or electric field controlsignal may have strength sufficient to produce a change in temperatureof the remotely activatable control element or a change in shape orposition or orientation in a remotely activatable control element. Sucha remotely activatable control element may include, for example, a shapememory material, a bimetallic structure, or a polymeric material. Asdiscussed in connection with FIG. 32, the remote controller may includea signal input adapted for receiving a feedback signal from theenvironment, and the magnetic or electric field control signal may thenbe determined based at least in part upon the feedback signal. Forexample, the feedback signal may correspond to the concentration oractivity of a chemical in the environment, the ionic strength or pH ofthe environment, the temperature or pressure of the environment or someother environmental parameter. Alternatively, or in additional, theremote controller may include a signal input adapted for receiving afeedback signal from the reaction device, e.g., as shown in FIG. 33, andthe magnetic or electric field control signal may produced based atleast in part upon the feedback signal from the reaction device. In someembodiments, the magnetic or electric field control signal may beproduced at least in part according to a pre-programmed pattern orpredetermined activation pattern. In some embodiments, the magnetic orelectric field control signal may be produced based on a model-basedcalculation. The remote controller may include a memory capable ofstoring a pre-determined activation pattern, or model parameters used inthe model-based calculation.

The magnetic or electric field control signal produced by the remotecontroller may have one or both of a defined magnetic field strength ora defined electric field strength. At low frequencies the electrical andmagnetic components of an electromagnetic field are separable when thefield enters a medium. Therefore, in static and quasi-static fieldapplication, the electromagnetic field control signal may be consideredas an electrical field or a magnetic field. A quasi-static field is onethat varies slowly, i.e., with a wavelength that is long with respect tothe physical scale of interest or a frequency that is low compared tothe characteristic response frequency of the object or medium;therefore, the frequency beyond which a field will no longer beconsidered ‘quasi-static’ is dependent upon the dimensions orelectrodynamic properties of the medium or structure(s) influenced bythe field.

FIG. 42 is a flow diagram of a method of controlling a reaction deviceas described above, which may include generating a static orquasi-static magnetic field control signal or static or quasi-staticelectric field control signal absorbable by a remotely activatablemagnetically or electrically responsive control element of a reactiondevice in an environment at step 1602 and remotely transmitting thestatic or quasi-static magnetic field control signal or static orquasi-static electric field control signal to the reaction device in theenvironment with a field strength sufficient to activate themagnetically or electrically responsive control element in the reactiondevice to control a chemical reaction occurring at a reaction region ofthe reaction device at step 1604. The method may include generating andtransmitting the magnetic field control signal to the reaction devicewith a control signal source at a location remote from the reactiondevice. The magnetic field control signal may be generated from amodel-based calculation, or based on a stored pattern. The method mayalso include receiving a feedback signal from the environment, and basedupon the feedback signal, generating a magnetic field control signalhaving frequency composition and strength expected to produce a desiredfeedback signal. As discussed herein, receiving a feedback signal fromthe environment may include receiving a measure of osmolality or pH,temperature, pressure or concentration or activity of a chemical withinat least a portion of the environment. In other embodiments, the methodmay include receiving a feedback signal from the reaction device, andbased upon the feedback signal, generating a magnetic field controlsignal having frequency composition and amplitude expected to produce adesired feedback signal. Receiving a feedback signal from the reactiondevice may include, for example, receiving a signal representing aconcentration of a reactant at the reaction region of the reactiondevice. Related embodiments not shown will employ quasi-static electricfields and devices responsive thereto to effect the same functions forthe same purposes.

In further embodiments, the method may include receiving user input ofone or more control parameters; and based upon the one or more controlparameters, generating a magnetic or electric field control signalhaving frequency composition and amplitude expected to produce a desiredrate of reaction in the reaction device. The method may includeactivating the magnetically or electrically responsive control elementto produce heating or cooling of the magnetically or electricallyresponsive control element sufficient to modify the chemical reactionoccurring at the reaction region, or to produce a change inconfiguration of the magnetically or electrically responsive controlelement sufficient to modify the chemical reaction occurring at thereaction region. For example, the change in configuration may includeexpansion of the magnetically or electrically responsive controlelement, or a change in shape of the magnetically or electricallyresponsive control element.

The steps of generating an electromagnetic control signal and remotelytransmitting the electromagnetic control signal to the reaction devicemay be performed according to instructions provided in the form ofsoftware, hardware or firmware.

Various embodiments may be configured for use with specific frequenciesof electromagnetic signal. For example, an embodiment of a reactionsystem configured to be controlled by a RF (radio frequency) controlsignal may include a body structure adapted for positioning in anenvironment, a reaction region located in or on the body structureincluding a first material capable of influencing a chemical reaction,and a remotely activatable control element operably coupled to the bodystructure and responsive to a radio-frequency electromagnetic controlsignal to modify one or more of the rate or kinetics of the chemicalreaction. The remotely activatable control element may modify one ormore of the rate or reaction kinetics of the chemical reaction bymodifying the influence of the first material on the chemical reaction.The reaction system may take a form as depicted generally in FIG. 6 forexample. In some embodiments, the remotely activatable control elementmay modify the rate of exposure of a reactant capable of participatingin the chemical reaction to the first material.

The remotely activatable control element may respond to the controlsignal by changing in at least one dimension. The remotely activatablecontrol element may include a polymer, ceramic, dielectric or metal, ashape memory material such as a shape memory polymer or a shape memorymetal, a bimetallic structure, a hydrogel, or a ferrogel. The remotelyactivatable control element may include a magnetically or electricallyactive material, which may be, for example, a permanently magnetizablematerial, a ferromagnetic material, a ferrimagnetic material, a ferrousmaterial, a ferric material, a dielectric, a ferroelectric, apiezoelectric, a diamagnetic material, a paramagnetic material, or anantiferromagnetic material. The remotely activatable control element maybe formed from various combinations of materials, including but notlimited to materials such as those listed above; for example, acombination of polymer and a magnetically and/or electrically activecomponent may be used in the remotely activatable control element. Sucha magnetically and/or electrically active component may be heatable bythe incident electromagnetic control signal, and heating or cooling ofthe magnetically or electrically active component may then cause thepolymer to undergo a change in configuration that modifies the influenceof the first material on the chemical reaction.

The reaction region may be located in an interior portion of the bodystructure and may be at least intermittently in fluid communication withthe environment via at least one inlet or outlet. The reaction regionmay be located on an exterior portion of the body structure in fluidcommunication with the environment. The system may include a valve thatis responsive to a change in at least one dimension of the remotelyactivatable control element. Additional portions of the reaction regionmay be exposed responsive to the change in at least one dimension of theremotely activatable control element. The surface area of the reactionregion may be increased responsive to the change in at least onedimension of the remotely activatable control element. The volumecontaining the reaction region within the interior portion of the bodystructure may be increased responsive to the change in at least onedimension of the remotely activatable control element. The remotelyactivatable control element may respond to the control signal byproducing heat. The remotely activatable control element may include avalve element or a structural element.

The system may include an outlet through which a product of the chemicalreaction is released into the environment or an inlet through which asecond material capable of participating in the chemical reaction entersthe reaction region. The first material is a reactant that is modifiedby participation in the chemical reaction, or a non-reactant materialthat modifies at least one condition at which the reaction occurs (e.g.,polarity, osmolality or pH, or charge of all or a portion of thereaction region); it may be a catalyst that facilitates the chemicalreaction but is not significantly modified by the chemical reaction.

A remote controller for use in such a reaction system may include anelectromagnetic signal generator capable of producing a radio frequencyelectromagnetic signal configured to be received by a remotelyactivatable control element of a reaction device located in anenvironment and to activate the remotely activatable control element toproduce a desired rate of a chemical reaction in the reaction device andan electromagnetic signal transmitter capable of transmitting the radiofrequency electromagnetic signal to the remotely activatable controlelement. The electromagnetic signal generator may include electricalcircuitry, including, for example, a microprocessor.

The remote controller may produce an electromagnetic signal at least inpart according to a pre-programmed pattern. The electromagnetic signalmay have a strength and frequency composition sufficient to produce achange in dimension, temperature, or shape in the remotely activatablecontrol element. For example, the strength and frequency composition maybe sufficient to produce a change in shape in a remotely activatablecontrol element comprising a shape memory material such as a shapememory metal or a shape memory polymer, a bimetallic structure, or apolymeric material. The remote controller may include a signal inputadapted for receiving a feedback signal from the environment, whereinthe electromagnetic signal is determined based at least in part upon thefeedback signal. An environment feedback signal may correspond to theconcentration or activity of a chemical in the environment, theosmolality or pH of the environment, or the pressure or temperature ofthe environment. Alternatively, or in addition, the remote controllermay include a signal input adapted for receiving a feedback signal fromthe reaction device, wherein the electromagnetic signal is determinedbased at least in part upon the feedback signal. In some embodiments,the electromagnetic signal may be produced based at least in part upon apredetermined activation pattern. The remote controller may include amemory capable of storing the pre-determined activation pattern. Theelectromagnetic signal may be produced based on a model-basedcalculation. The remote controller may then include a memory capable ofstoring model parameters used in the model-based calculation. The remotecontroller may produce an electromagnetic signal having one or both of adefined magnetic field strength or a defined electric field strength, asthe electromagnetic signal is not necessarily a radiated one.

FIG. 43 is a flow diagram of a method of controlling a reaction devicewith a radio frequency control signal. In general, a method ofcontrolling a reaction device may include generating a radio frequencyelectromagnetic control signal including frequency components absorbableby a magnetically or electrically responsive control element of thereaction device in an environment as shown at step 1652 and remotelytransmitting the radio frequency electromagnetic control signal to thereaction device in the environment with signal characteristicssufficient to activate the magnetically or electrically responsivecontrol element in the reaction device to control a chemical reactionoccurring at a reaction region of the reaction device at step 1654. Themethod may include generating and transmitting the radio frequencyelectromagnetic control signal to the reaction device with a remotecontrol signal source. The method may also include generating the radiofrequency electromagnetic control signal from a model-based calculationor generating the radio frequency electromagnetic control signal basedon a stored pattern. In some embodiments, the method may includereceiving a feedback signal from the environment; and based upon thefeedback signal, generating a radio frequency electromagnetic controlsignal having frequency composition and amplitude expected to produce adesired feedback signal. Receiving a feedback signal from theenvironment may include receiving a measure of osmolality, pH, pressureor temperature, or the concentration or activity of a chemical within atleast a portion of the environment. In some embodiments, the method mayinclude receiving a feedback signal from the reaction device, and basedupon the feedback signal, generating a radio frequency electromagneticcontrol signal having frequency composition and amplitude expected toproduce a desired feedback signal. A feedback signal from the reactiondevice may represent a concentration of a reactant at the reactionregion of the reaction device, for example. In some embodiments, themethod may include receiving user input of one or more controlparameters, and based upon the one or more control parameters,generating a radio frequency electromagnetic control signal havingfrequency composition and amplitude expected to produce a desired rateof reaction in the reaction device. The method may include activatingthe magnetically or electrically responsive control element to produceheating or a change in configuration of the magnetically or electricallyresponsive control element.

Methods of controlling the reaction device as described herein mayinclude generating a radio frequency electromagnetic control signal andremotely transmitting the radio frequency electromagnetic control signalto the reaction device according to instructions provided in the form ofsoftware, hardware or firmware.

FIG. 44 is a flow diagram of a reaction method as carried out inremotely controlled reaction systems, of which various examples aredescribed herein. The method may include receiving an electromagneticcontrol signal from a remote control signal source at step 1702; inresponse to the received electromagnetic control signal, modifying areaction condition at a reaction region of a reaction device located inan environment through at least one of a mechanical, thermal, orchemical response of the remotely activatable control element to theelectromagnetic control signal at step 1704; and releasing a product ofthe reaction into the environment at step 1706. The method may alsoinclude receiving a reactant capable of taking part in the reaction fromthe environment.

The method may include modifying a reaction condition at the reactionregion by modifying the area of the reaction region, for example,increasing or decreasing the area of the reaction region. Increasing thearea of the reaction region may include increasing or decreasing thedistances between reaction sites in the reaction region, and/or it mayinclude increasing or decreasing the number of available reaction sitesin the reaction area. The method may include modifying a reactioncondition at the reaction region by heating or cooling at least aportion of the reaction region, or by modifying the osmolality or pH,surface charge, or surface energy of at least a portion of the reactionregion. In some embodiments, modifying a reaction condition at thereaction region may include modifying a parameter of a reaction spacewithin the reaction device, the reaction space containing the reactionregion. Modifying a reaction condition at the reaction region mayinclude modifying the volume of the reaction space, heating or coolingat least a portion of the reaction space, or modifying the osmolality orpH or chemical composition of at least a portion of the reaction space.

The method may include receiving the electromagnetic control signal witha magnetically or electrically active material, such as a permanentlymagnetizable material, a ferromagnetic material, a ferrimagneticmaterial, a ferrous material, a ferric material, a diamagnetic material,a dielectric or ferroelectric or piezoelectric material, a paramagneticmaterial, or an antiferromagnetic material. In some embodiments, themagnetically or electrically active material may be a polymer or abiomolecule. Receiving the electromagnetic control signal with themagnetically or electrically active material may result in heating orcooling, acceleration, vibration, change in orientation, or change inposition of the magnetically or electrically active material.

In other embodiments, the method may include receiving theelectromagnetic control signal with an antenna, a resonant element, or achemical bond. Receiving the electromagnetic control signal may includeinteracting with a static or quasi-static magnetic or electrical field,or it may include a radio-frequency electromagnetic signal, a microwaveelectromagnetic signal, an infrared wavelength electromagnetic signal,an optical wavelength electromagnetic signal, or an ultravioletwavelength electromagnetic signal. Releasing the product of the reactionmay include releasing a beneficial material or releasing a deactivateddeleterious material.

FIG. 45 is a flow diagram of a reaction method. The reaction method mayinclude receiving a material from an environment at a reaction region ofa reaction device located in the environment at step 1752, receiving anelectromagnetic control signal from a remote control signal source atstep 1754, and in response to the received electromagnetic controlsignal, modifying the rate or kinetics of reaction of the material atthe reaction region at step 1756. In some variants of such a method,modifying a reaction condition at the reaction region may beaccomplished by modifying the area of the reaction region, i.e., eitherincreasing or decreasing the area of the reaction region. Increasing thearea of the reaction region may increase the distances between reactionsites in the reaction region or it may increase the number of availablereaction sites in the reaction area. Decreasing the area of the reactionregion may decrease the distances between reaction sites in the reactionregion or it may decrease the number of available reaction sites in thereaction area, for instance in order to modify the rate of diffusion ofa chemical compound.

Modifying a reaction condition at the reaction region may also beaccomplished by heating or cooling at least a portion of the reactionregion, or by modifying the osmolality or pH, surface charge, or surfaceenergy of at least a portion of the reaction region. Similarly,modifying a reaction condition at the reaction region may includemodifying a parameter of a reaction space within the reaction device,the reaction space containing the reaction region, e.g. by modifying thevolume of the reaction space, heating or cooling at least a portion ofthe reaction space, or modifying the osmolality, pH, pressure,temperature or chemical composition of at least a portion of thereaction space.

The method may include receiving the electromagnetic control signal witha magnetically or electrically active material such as a permanentlymagnetizable material, a ferromagnetic material, a ferrimagneticmaterial, a ferrous material, a ferric material, a diamagnetic material,a dielectric, ferroelectric or piezoelectric material, a paramagneticmaterial, or an antiferromagnetic material. In some cases, magneticallyactive material may be a polymer or a biomolecule. In still otherembodiments, the method may include receiving the electromagneticcontrol signal with an antenna or a resonant element. In still otherembodiments, the method may include receiving the electromagneticcontrol signal with at least one chemical bond. Receiving theelectromagnetic control signal includes receiving a static orquasi-static magnetic field, a static or quasi-static electrical field,or a radio frequency, microwave, infrared, optical, or ultravioletelectromagnetic signal. Releasing the product of the reaction mayinclude releasing a beneficial material or a deactivated deleteriousmaterial.

A reaction system that utilizes an electromagnetic field control signalmay include a reaction device and a remote control signal source. Thereaction device may include a body structure adapted for positioning inan environment, a reaction region located in or on the body structure,the reaction region including a first material capable of influencing achemical reaction, and a remotely activatable control element operablycoupled to the body structure and responsive to an electromagneticcontrol signal to modify one or more of the rate or kinetics of thechemical reaction. The remote signal source may be capable of generatingan electromagnetic control signal sufficient to activate the remotelyactivatable control element to produce a desired rate of the chemicalreaction. The remotely activatable control element may respond to thecontrol signal by changing in at least one dimension, or by changing inposition or orientation. The remotely activatable control element mayinclude a polymer, a ceramic, a metal, a dielectric, a shape memorymaterial such as a shape memory polymer or a shape memory metal, abimetallic structure, a hydrogel, a ferrogel, or a magnetically orelectrically active material such as a permanently magnetizablematerial, a ferromagnetic material, a ferrimagnetic material, a ferrousmaterial, a ferric material, a dielectric or ferroelectric orpiezoelectric material, a diamagnetic material, a paramagnetic material,or an antiferromagnetic material. In some embodiments, the remotelyactivatable control element may include a composite structure formed oftwo or more materials. For example, the remotely activatable controlelement may include a polymer and a magnetically or electrically activecomponent, such that the magnetically or electrically active componentmay be heated or cooled by the incident electromagnetic control signal,and heating or cooling of the magnetically or electrically activecomponent causes the polymer to undergo a change in configuration thatmodifies the influence of the first material on the chemical reaction.The remotely activatable control element may be responsive to a staticor quasi-static electrical field or static or quasi-static magneticfield. In some embodiments, the remotely activatable control element maybe responsive to non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation. The remotelyactivatable control element may be responsive to radio-frequency,microwave, infrared, millimeter wave, optical, or ultravioletelectromagnetic signal. In some embodiments, the reaction region of thereaction device may be located in an interior portion of the bodystructure and be at least intermittently in fluid communication with theenvironment via at least one inlet or outlet. In other embodiments, thereaction region may be located on an exterior portion of the bodystructure in fluid communication with the environment. In the case thatthe reaction region is located in an interior portion of the bodystructure, the system may also include a valve responsive to a change inat least one dimension of the remotely activatable control element. Thevalve may be configured to increase the flow of fluid into the reactionregion or flow of fluid out of the reaction region responsive to thechange in at least one dimension of the remotely activatable controlelement. Conversely, the valve may be configured to decrease flow offluid into or out of the reaction region responsive to the change in atleast one dimension of the remotely activatable control element.

In some embodiments, additional portions of the reaction region may beexposed responsive to the change in at least one dimension of theremotely activatable control element. The surface area of the reactionregion may be increased responsive to the change in at least onedimension of the remotely activatable control element. In someembodiments, a volume containing the reaction region within the interiorportion of the body structure may be increased responsive to the changein at least one dimension of the remotely activatable control element.The remotely activatable control element may be or form a part of aheating or cooling element, a valve element, or a structural element.The system may include one or more of an outlet through which a productof the chemical reaction is released into the environment or an inletthrough which a second material capable of participating in the chemicalreaction enters the reaction region. The system may include a bodystructure adapted for positioning in an environment which may be, forexample, a body of an organism, a body of water, or a contained fluidvolume such as an industrial fluid volume, an agricultural fluid volume,a swimming pool, an aquarium, a drinking water supply, or an HVAC systemcooling water supply.

As described herein, various reaction devices and systems may operateunder software control. In general, software for controlling a reactiondevice may include instructions for generating an electromagneticcontrol signal including frequency components absorbable by amagnetically or electrically responsive control element of the reactiondevice in an environment and instructions for remotely transmitting theelectromagnetic control signal to the reaction device in the environmentwith a signal strength or duration or frequency content or otherpertinent parameter sufficient to produce at least one of mechanical,thermal or chemical activation of the magnetically or electricallyresponsive control element in the reaction device to control a chemicalreaction occurring at a reaction region of the reaction device. Theinstructions for generating an electromagnetic control signal mayinclude instructions for calculating the electromagnetic control signalbased on a model or for generating the electromagnetic control signalbased on a pattern stored in a data storage location. In someembodiments, the software may include instructions for receiving afeedback signal from the environment and for generating theelectromagnetic control signal based at least in part upon the receivedfeedback signal. The software instructions may provide for generation ofan electromagnetic control signal having frequency composition andamplitude expected to produce a desired feedback signal. Additionalinstructions may be provided for receiving a feedback signal from thereaction device generating the electromagnetic control signal based atleast in part upon the received feedback signal; again, theelectromagnetic control signal may be generated with frequencycomposition, polarization, directional properties, spatial gradients andamplitude expected to produce a desired feedback signal. The softwaremay also include instructions for receiving user input of one or morecontrol parameters; and instructions for generating the electromagneticcontrol signal based upon the one or more control parameters.

FIG. 46 is a flow diagram of a method of controlling a reaction deviceaccording to various embodiments disclosed herein, a method ofcontrolling a reaction device may include generating an electromagneticcontrol signal including frequency components absorbable by amagnetically or electrically responsive control element of the reactiondevice in an environment as shown at step 1802 and remotely transmittingthe electromagnetic control signal to the reaction device in theenvironment with signal characteristics sufficient to producemechanical, thermal or chemical activation of the magnetically orelectrically responsive control element in the reaction device tocontrol a chemical reaction occurring at a reaction region of thereaction device as shown at step 1804. The method may include generatingand transmitting the electromagnetic control signal with a remotecontrol signal source. The electromagnetic control signal may begenerated from a model-based calculation or from a stored pattern. Themethod may include receiving a feedback signal from the environment, andbased upon the feedback signal, generating an electromagnetic controlsignal having signal characteristics expected to produce a desiredfeedback signal. Such a feedback signal from the environment includesmay include a measure of osmolality, pH, pressure, temperature, or theconcentration or activity of a chemical within at least a portion of theenvironment. In certain embodiments, the method may include receiving afeedback signal from the reaction device; and based upon the feedbacksignal, generating an electromagnetic control signal having frequencycomposition and amplitude expected to produce a desired feedback signal.Such a feedback signal may, for example, represent a concentration of areactant at the reaction region of the reaction device, the temperatureof the reaction device, or another parameter of at least a portion ofthe reaction device.

The method may also include receiving user input of one or more controlparameters; and based upon the one or more control parameters,generating an electromagnetic control signal having signalcharacteristics expected to produce a desired rate of reaction in thereaction device. In particular, the method may include activating themagnetically or electrically responsive control element to produceheating or cooling of the magnetically or electrically responsivecontrol element, where the heating or cooling modifies the chemicalreaction occurring at the reaction region, or activating themagnetically or electrically responsive control element to produce achange in configuration of the magnetically or electrically responsivecontrol element, where the change in configuration modifies the chemicalreaction occurring at the reaction region. The change in configurationmay be, for example, an expansion of the magnetically or electricallyresponsive control element, which causes exposure of reaction sites atthe reaction region or changes the density of reaction sites at thereaction region. In one embodiment, the method may be applied in asystem where the magnetically or electrically responsive control elementincludes a polymer, and the expansion of the magnetically orelectrically responsive control element causes opening of pores in thepolymer. In some embodiments of the method, the change in configurationmay include a change in the shape of the magnetically or electricallyresponsive control element. In various embodiments of the method, thesteps of generating an electromagnetic control signal and remotelytransmitting the electromagnetic control signal to the reaction devicemay be performed according to instructions provided in the form ofsoftware, hardware or firmware.

FIG. 47 is a flow diagram of a method of controlling a reaction devicein a body of an organism. The method may include receiving anelectromagnetic control signal from a remote control signal source witha magnetically or electrically responsive control element as indicatedat step 1852, modifying a reaction condition at a reaction region of areaction device located in a body of an organism in response to thereceived electromagnetic control signal as indicated at step 1854, andreleasing a product of the reaction into the body of the organism asindicated at step 1856. In certain embodiments, the method may becarried out with a reaction device in the body of an animal or a human,a plant, or various other organisms. The method may include receiving areactant capable of taking part in the reaction from the environment,which may be, for example, a biomolecule, a synthetic compound, orvarious other materials present in the environment. The method mayinclude modifying a reaction condition at the reaction region bymodifying the area of the reaction region, which may have the effect ofmodifying the distances between reaction sites in the reaction region ormodifying the number of available reaction sites in the reaction area,for example. In some embodiments, the method may include modifying areaction condition at the reaction region by heating or cooling at leasta portion of the reaction region, by modifying the osmolality, pH,surface charge, or surface energy of at least a portion of the reactionregion. Modifying a reaction condition at the reaction region mayinclude modifying a parameter of a reaction space within the reactiondevice, the reaction space containing the reaction region. As notedpreviously, this may include modifying the volume of the reaction space,heating or cooling at least a portion of the reaction space, ormodifying the osmolality or pH of at least a portion of the reactionspace.

The method of FIG. 47 may be performed in a system which includesmagnetically or electrically responsive control element that includes amagnetically active material such as a permanently magnetizablematerial, a ferromagnetic material, a ferrimagnetic material, a ferrousmaterial, a ferric material, a dielectric or ferroelectric orpiezoelectric material, a diamagnetic material, a paramagnetic material,or an antiferromagnetic material. In some embodiments, the magneticallyor electrically active material may be a polymer or a biomolecule. Themethod may include receiving the electromagnetic control signal with themagnetically or electrically responsive control element which results inheating of the magnetically or electrically active material. In someembodiments, receiving the electromagnetic control signal with themagnetically or electrically responsive control element results invibration, change in orientation or change in position, change inconfiguration or other movement of part or all of the magnetically orelectrically active material. A change in configuration is contemplatedto include a local or global change in shape or volume, for example. Themethod may also include receiving the electromagnetic control signalwith an antenna, a resonant element, a chemical bond or other gainelement.

Receiving the electromagnetic control signal may include receiving astatic or quasi-static magnetic field, a static or quasi-staticelectrical field, a radio-frequency electromagnetic signal, a microwaveelectromagnetic signal, an infrared wavelength electromagnetic signal,an optical wavelength electromagnetic signal, or an ultravioletwavelength electromagnetic signal. The method may include a step ofreleasing the product of the reaction includes releasing a beneficialmaterial or a deactivated deleterious material. Examples of beneficialmaterials include nutrients, hormones, growth factors, medications,therapeutic compounds, enzymes, genetic materials, vaccines, vitamins,imaging agents, therapeutic compounds, cell signaling materials, pro- oranti-apoPatent Officetic agents, or neurotransmitters. Beneficialmaterials may be produced within a reaction system by various types ofreactions, including, for example, conversion of pro-drugs to drugs, orenzymatic reaction of material in bloodstream (CYP450, cholesterolmetabolism (e.g., with cholesterol monooxygenase, cholesterol reductase,cholesterol oxidase). See, for example, “Liver-Targeted Drug DeliveryUsing Heppirectl Prodrugs,” Erion et al., Journal of Pharmacology andExperimental Therapeutics Fast Forward, JPET 312:554-560, 2005 (firstpub Aug. 31, 2004) and “LEAPT: Lectin-directed enzyme-activated prodrugtherapy”, Robinson et al., PNAS Oct. 5, 2004 vol. 101, No. 40,14527-14532, published online before print Sep. 24, 2004, both of whichare incorporated herein by reference.

Deactivated deleterious materials may include, for example, deactivatedlipids/cholesterol, plaque, infectious agents such as microbes andinfectious/misfolded proteins, inflammatory agents such ascytokines/chemokines, growth factors, and autoreactive antibodies,oxidants, toxins, poisons, heavy metals, pollutants includingorganochlorine pollutants such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) ordichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p′-DDE) and organophosphates,tobacco products, tar, or particulates. Deactivation of deleteriousmaterial within the reaction device may occur through degrading,chemically modifying, detoxifying, adsorbing, absorbing, enveloping, orkilling the substance by chemical reactions such as enzymaticdegradation and modification (e.g., alcohol dehydrogenase to removealcohol), neutralization of free radicals by antioxidant scavenging, andadsorption with magnetically or electrically polarized particles (e.g.labelled with binding moieties such as antibodies) for separation orsequestering, as a few examples.

FIG. 48 is a flow diagram of a method of controlling a reaction devicein a body of an organism. The method may include receiving a materialfrom a body of an organism at a reaction region of a reaction devicelocated in the body of the organism as step 1902, receiving anelectromagnetic control signal from a remote control signal source witha magnetically or electrically responsive control element at step 1904,and in response to the received electromagnetic control signal,modifying the rate of reaction of the material at the reaction region atstep 1906. Such a reaction method may be carried out in an animal, ahuman, or a plant, for example. The method may include modifying areaction condition at the reaction region by modifying the area of thereaction region. Modifying the area of the reaction region may modifythe distances between reaction sites in the reaction region, ormodifying the area of the reaction region modifies the number ofavailable reaction sites in the reaction area. The method may includemodifying a reaction condition at the reaction region by heating orcooling at least a portion of the reaction region, or by modifying theosmolality, pH, surface charge or surface energy of at least a portionof the reaction region. In some embodiments, modifying a reactioncondition at the reaction region may include modifying a parameter of areaction space within the reaction device, the reaction space containingthe reaction region. Modifying a reaction condition at the reactionregion may include modifying the volume of the reaction space, heatingor cooling at least a portion of the reaction space, or modifying theosmolality, pH, pressure, temperature or chemical composition of atleast a portion of the reaction space. In some embodiments, themagnetically or electrically responsive control element which receivesthe electromagnetic control signal may include a magnetically orelectrically active material such as permanently magnetizable material,a ferromagnetic material, a ferrimagnetic material, a ferrous material,a ferric material, a dielectric or ferroelectric or piezoelectricmaterial, a diamagnetic material, a paramagnetic material, and anantiferromagnetic material. In some embodiments, the magnetically orelectrically active material may include a polymer or a biomolecule.Receiving the electromagnetic control signal with the magnetically orelectrically responsive control element may result in heating,vibration, change in orientation, or change in position, or change inconfiguration of the magnetically or electrically active material. Thechange in configuration, for example, may include a change in shape orchange in volume or a change in surface area.

A further variation of the method may include receiving theelectromagnetic control signal with an antenna, a resonant element, or achemical bond. The method may include receiving a static or quasi-staticmagnetic field or electrical field, a radio-frequency electromagneticsignal, a microwave electromagnetic signal, an infrared wavelengthelectromagnetic signal, an optical wavelength electromagnetic signal oran ultraviolet wavelength electromagnetic signal.

Receiving a material from a body of an organism may include a componentor precursor of a beneficial material such as genetic materials,vaccines, nutrients, vitamins, imaging agents, therapeutic compounds,hormones, growth factors, pro- or anti-apoPatent Officetic agents, orneurotransmitters. Such precursors, may include, for example, prodrugs(see, e.g., “Liver-Targeted Drug Delivery Using Heppirectl Prodrugs,”Erion et al., Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics FastForward, JPET 312:554-560, 2005 (first pub Aug. 31, 2004) and “LEAPT:Lectin-directed enzyme-activated prodrug therapy”, Robinson et al., PNASOct. 5, 2004 vol. 101, No. 40, 14527-14532, published online beforeprint Sep. 24, 2004, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.Beneficial materials may be produced, for example, conversion ofpro-drug to drug, enzymatic reaction of material in bloodstream (CYP450,cholesterol metabolism (e.g., with cholesterol monooxygenase,cholesterol reductase, cholesterol oxidase). Alternatively, receiving amaterial from a body of an organism may include receiving a deleteriousmaterial for subsequent deactivation, degradation, or sequestration.Deleterious material may include lipids/cholesterol, plaque, infectiousagents such as microbes and infectious/misfolded prions, inflammatoryagents such as cytokines/chemokines, growth factors, and autoreactiveantibodies, oxidants, toxins, poisons, heavy metals, pollutantsincluding organochlorine pollutants such as polychlorinated biphenyls(PCB) or dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p, p′-DDE) andorganophosphates, tobacco products, tar, and particulates, which may bedeactivated, degraded, or sequestered, e.g., by degrading, chemicallymodifying, detoxifying, adsorbing, absorbing, enveloping, or killing thesubstance by chemical reactions such as enzymatic degradation andmodification (e.g., alcohol dehydrogenase to remove alcohol),neutralization of free radicals by antioxidant scavenging, adsorptionwith magnetically or electrically polarized particles (e.g. labeled withbinding moieties such as antibodies) for separation or sequestering.

FIG. 49 is a flow diagram of a method of controlling a reaction device.The method of controlling a reaction device may include generating anelectromagnetic control signal including frequency components absorbableby a magnetically or electrically responsive control element of thereaction device in a body of an organism at step 1952 and remotelytransmitting the electromagnetic control signal to the reaction devicein the body of the organism with signal characteristics sufficient toactivate the magnetically or electrically responsive control element inthe reaction device to control a chemical reaction occurring at areaction region of the reaction device at step 1954. The method mayinclude generating and transmitting the electromagnetic control signalwith a remote control signal source. The electromagnetic control signalmay be generated from a model-based calculation or from a storedpattern. The method may include receiving a feedback signal from thebody of the organism, and, based upon the feedback signal, generating anelectromagnetic control signal having waveform expected to produce adesired feedback signal. For example, receiving a feedback signal fromthe body of the organism may include receiving a measure of pH ortemperature within at least a portion of the body of the organism.Receiving a feedback signal from the body of the organism may includereceiving a measure of the concentration or activity of a chemicalwithin at least a portion of the body of the organism. Exemplarychemicals may include proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, glycoproteins,amino acid sequences, nucleic acid sequences, or ions to name only afew.

The method may include receiving a feedback signal from the reactiondevice and based upon the feedback signal, generating an electromagneticcontrol signal having signal characteristics predicted or expected toproduce a desired feedback signal. Receiving a feedback signal from thereaction device may include receiving a signal representing aconcentration of a reactant at the reaction region of the reactiondevice. The method may include receiving user input of one or morecontrol parameters and based upon the one or more control parameters,generating an electromagnetic control signal having signalcharacteristics expected to produce a desired rate of reaction in thereaction device. The method may include activating the magnetically orelectrically responsive control element to produce heating or cooling orchange in configuration of the magnetically or electrically responsivecontrol element. The change in configuration may include, for example,expansion of the magnetically or electrically responsive controlelement, which may cause exposure of reaction sites at the reactionregion or change the density of reaction sites at the reaction region.The magnetically or electrically responsive control element may includea polymer, and expansion of the magnetically or electrically responsivecontrol element may cause opening of pores in the polymer. The change inconfiguration may include a change in shape of the magnetically orelectrically responsive control element. The steps of generating anelectromagnetic control signal and remotely transmitting theelectromagnetic control signal to the reaction device may be performedaccording to instructions provided in the form of software, hardware orfirmware.

With regard to the hardware and/or software used in the control ofreaction devices and systems according to the present embodiments, andparticularly to the sensing, analysis, and control aspects of suchsystems, those having skill in the art will recognize that the state ofthe art has progressed to the point where there is little distinctionleft between hardware and software implementations of aspects ofsystems; the use of hardware or software is generally (but not always,in that in certain contexts the choice between hardware and software canbecome significant) a design choice representing cost vs. efficiency orimplementation convenience tradeoffs. Those having skill in the art willappreciate that there are various vehicles by which processes and/orsystems described herein can be effected (e.g., hardware, software,and/or firmware), and that the preferred vehicle will vary with thecontext in which the processes are deployed. For example, if animplementer determines that speed and accuracy are paramount, theimplementer may opt for a hardware and/or firmware vehicle;alternatively, if flexibility is paramount, the implementer may opt fora solely software implementation; or, yet again alternatively, theimplementer may opt for some combination of hardware, software, and/orfirmware. Hence, there are several possible vehicles by which theprocesses described herein may be effected, none of which is inherentlysuperior to the other in that any vehicle to be utilized is a choicedependent upon the context in which the vehicle will be deployed and thespecific concerns (e.g., speed, flexibility, or predictability) of theimplementer, any of which may vary.

The foregoing detailed description has set forth various embodiments ofthe devices and/or processes via the use of block diagrams, flowcharts,and/or examples. Insofar as such block diagrams, flowcharts, and/orexamples contain one or more functions and/or operations, it will beimplicitly understood by those with skill in the art that each functionand/or operation within such block diagrams, flowcharts, or examples canbe implemented, individually and/or collectively, by a wide range ofhardware, software, firmware, or virtually any combination thereof. Inone embodiment, several portions of the subject matter subject matterdescribed herein may be implemented via Application Specific IntegratedCircuits (ASICs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), digital signalprocessors (DSPs), or other integrated formats. However, those skilledin the art will recognize that some aspects of the embodiments disclosedherein, in whole or in part, can be equivalently implemented in standardintegrated circuits, as one or more computer programs running on one ormore computers (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or morecomputer systems), as one or more programs running on one or moreprocessors (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or moremicroprocessors), as firmware, or as virtually any combination thereof,and that designing the circuitry and/or writing the code for thesoftware and/or firmware would be well within the capabilities of one ofskill in the art in light of this disclosure. In addition, those skilledin the art will appreciate that certain mechanisms of the subject matterdescribed herein are capable of being distributed as a program productin a variety of forms, and that an illustrative embodiment of thesubject matter described herein applies equally regardless of theparticular type of signal bearing media used to actually carry out thedistribution. Examples of a signal bearing media include, but are notlimited to, the following: recordable type media such as floppy disks,hard disk drives, CD ROMs, digital tape, and computer memory; andtransmission type media such as digital and analog communication linksusing TDM or IP based communication links (e.g., links carryingpacketized data).

In a general sense, those skilled in the art will recognize that thevarious aspects described herein which can be implemented, individuallyand/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software, firmware, orany combination thereof can be viewed as being composed of various typesof “electrical circuitry.” Consequently, as used herein “electricalcircuitry” includes, but is not limited to, electrical circuitry havingat least one discrete electrical circuit, electrical circuitry having atleast one integrated circuit, electrical circuitry having at least oneapplication specific integrated circuit, electrical circuitry forming ageneral purpose computing device configured by a computer program (e.g.,a general purpose computer configured by a computer program which atleast partially carries out processes and/or devices described herein,or a microprocessor configured by a computer program which at leastpartially carries out processes and/or devices described herein),electrical circuitry forming a memory device (e.g., forms of randomaccess memory), and/or electrical circuitry forming a communicationsdevice (e.g., a modem, communications switch, or optical-electricalequipment).

Those skilled in the art will recognize that it is common within the artto describe devices for detection or sensing, signal processing, anddevice control in the fashion set forth herein, and thereafter usestandard engineering practices to integrate such described devicesand/or processes into reaction systems as exemplified herein. That is,at least a portion of the devices and/or processes described herein canbe integrated into a reaction system via a reasonable amount ofexperimentation.

Those having skill in the art will recognize that systems as describedherein may include one or more of a memory such as volatile andnon-volatile memory, processors such as microprocessors and digitalsignal processors, computational-supporting or -associated entities suchas operating systems, user interfaces, drivers, sensors, actuators,applications programs, one or more interaction devices, such as dataports, control systems including feedback loops and control implementingactuators (e.g., devices for sensing osmolality, pH, pressure,temperature, or chemical concentration, signal generators for generatingelectromagnetic control signals). A system may be implemented utilizingany suitable available components, combined with standard engineeringpractices.

The foregoing-described aspects depict different components containedwithin, or connected with, different other components. It is to beunderstood that such depicted architectures are merely exemplary, andthat in fact many other architectures can be implemented which achievethe same functionality. In a conceptual sense, any arrangement ofcomponents to achieve the same functionality is effectively “associated”such that the desired functionality is achieved. Hence, any twocomponents herein combined to achieve a particular functionality can beseen as “associated with” each other such that the desired functionalityis achieved, irrespective of architectures or intermediate components.Likewise, any two components so associated can also be viewed as being“operably connected”, or “operably coupled”, to each other to achievethe desired functionality.

While particular aspects of the present subject matter described hereinhave been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled inthe art that, based upon the teachings herein, changes and modificationsmay be made without departing from this subject matter described hereinand its broader aspects and, therefore, the appended claims are toencompass within their scope all such changes and modifications as arewithin the true spirit and scope of this subject matter describedherein. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the invention isdefined by the appended claims. It will be understood by those withinthe art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in theappended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generallyintended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should beinterpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” shouldbe interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should beinterpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will befurther understood by those within the art that if a specific number ofan introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will beexplicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitationno such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, thefollowing appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases“at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations.However, the use of such phrases should NOT be construed to imply thatthe introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or“an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claimrecitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even whenthe same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “atleast one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or“an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” and/or “oneor more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used tointroduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number ofan introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled inthe art will recognize that such recitation should typically beinterpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the barerecitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typicallymeans at least two recitations, or two or more recitations).Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “atleast one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a constructionis intended in the sense of one having skill in the art would understandthe convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C”would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone,C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A,B, and C together). In those instances where a convention analogous to“at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such aconstruction is intended in the sense of one having skill in the artwould understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one ofA, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have Aalone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and Ctogether, and/or A, B, and C together).

Although the methods, devices, systems and approaches herein have beendescribed with reference to certain preferred embodiments, otherembodiments are possible. As illustrated by the foregoing examples,various choices of remote controller, system configuration and reactiondevice may be within the scope of the invention. As has been discussed,the choice of system configuration may depend on the intendedapplication of the system, the environment in which the system is used,cost, personal preference or other factors. System design, manufacture,and control processes may be modified to take into account choices ofuse environment and intended application, and such modifications, asknown to those of skill in the arts device design and construction, mayfall within the scope of the invention. Therefore, the full spirit orscope of the invention is defined by the appended claims and is not tobe limited to the specific embodiments described herein.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A system comprising: a body structureadapted for positioning in an environment; a reaction region operablycoupled to the body structure including a first material configured toinfluence a chemical reaction involving at least one material from theenvironment; and a remotely activatable control element operably coupledto the body structure and responsive to a static or quasi-staticmagnetic field control signal or a static or quasi-static electric fieldcontrol signal to modify one or more of the rate or kinetics of thechemical reaction on the reaction region, wherein the remotelyactivatable control element responds to the control signal by changingin at least one dimension, wherein additional portions of the reactionregion are exposed responsive to the change in at least one dimension ofthe remotely activatable control element, and wherein exposure ofadditional portions of the reaction region exposes additional functionalgroups to produce at least a local change in osmolality, pH, surfaceenergy, or surface charge.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein thereaction region is located in an interior portion of the body structureand is at least intermittently in fluid communication with theenvironment via at least one inlet or outlet.
 3. The system of claim 2,further including a valve responsive to the change in at least onedimension of the remotely activatable control element to modify at leastone of the flow of fluid into the reaction region or the flow of fluidout of the reaction region responsive to the change in at least onedimension of the remotely activatable control element.
 4. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the reaction region is located on an exterior portionof the body structure in fluid communication with the environment. 5.The system of claim 1, wherein the remotely activatable control elementincludes a valve element or a structural element.
 6. The system of claim1, wherein the remotely activatable control element modifies one or moreof the rate or kinetics of the chemical reaction by modifying theinfluence of the first material on the chemical reaction, or the rate ofexposure of a reactant configured to participate in the chemicalreaction to the first material.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein theremotely activatable control element includes at least one of a polymer,ceramic, dielectric, metal, shape memory material, bimetallic structure,hydrogel, ferrogel, ferroelectric, magnetically active material, orelectrically active material.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein at leastone of a surface area of the reaction region or a volume containing thereaction region within the interior portion of the body structure isincreased responsive to the change in at least one dimension of theremotely activatable control element.
 9. The system of claim 1,including at least one of an outlet through which a product of thechemical reaction is released into the environment or an inlet throughwhich a second material configured to participate in the chemicalreaction enters the reaction region.
 10. The system of claim 1, whereinthe first material is selected from a reactant that is modified byparticipation in the chemical reaction, a non-reactant material thatmodifies at least one condition at which the chemical reaction occurs,or a catalyst that facilitates the chemical reaction but is notsignificantly modified by the chemical reaction.
 11. The system of claim1, including a body structure adapted for positioning in theenvironment, wherein the environment is selected from a body of anorganism, a body of water, a contained fluid volume, an industrial fluidvolume, an agricultural fluid volume, a swimming pool, an aquarium, adrinking water supply, and a HVAC system cooling water supply.